PRIME livestock prices soared at the latest Ludlow livestock auction.
A competitive hogget market saw significant activity among buyers on Monday, January 12, with hoggets peaking at £225 from CP Paddock, while a hogget from M Wall fetched 415p per kilogram – the highest price per kg.
The sale of 1,175 prime hoggets collectively fetched a standard quality quotation average of 340p per kg and an overall average of 335p per kg.
Fat bulls also made remarkable returns with the highest price reaching £3,498.30, while the top price per kg stood at 448.5p.
The average fat bull price was £2,531.10 per head and 373.08p per kg, with Top 20 all sold over 400p per kg.
Prime cattle prices also saw a rise as the supply fell short due to recent adverse weather conditions, with top-quality heifers fetching 470p per kg and steers being sold for a maximum of 455p per kg and averaging above 400p per kg.
The highest-priced steer sold for £3,046, while the top-priced heifer reached £2,898.
The cull stock traded well, with the top-priced cull cow being sold for £2,395, while the top-priced cull bull went under the hammer with a price tag of £3,024.
The day also saw the sale of 660 cull sheep.
Ewe prices reached a maximum of £288 and averaged £145.34, while the top price for rams was £162, with an average of £155.75.
It was the strongest Texel ewes which topped at £288, with smaller continental ewes going for £252, £230 and £222. Pure Suffolks sold for £220 and £190.
The biggest Suffolk and Texel ewes mainly went for £170-£190 with smaller sorts going for £150-£170.
Bigger Mules went for £140-£160, with half meat types netting £120-£140.
Smaller ewes with flesh made £100-£120, with the very plainest making £40-£60. The strongest rams made £140-£162.
The transactions of the day revealed consistently strong trade activities.
However, the auctioneers have indicated that more livestock are needed to meet increasing demand.
Auctioning was overseen by Michael Thomas and James Amphlett, who can be reached for further details at 07890 898239 and 07972 653077, respectively.
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