MESSRS Craig Wilson sold 12 prime heifers at Ayr on Tuesday to a top of 248p/kg for a Limousin Cross to average 223p overall. Two prime bullocks peaked at 249p for a Limousin Cross.

There were also 162 cast stock in the rough ring. Beef cows peaked at £1,260 for a Simmental Cross, while dairy cows sold to £1,000 for a Holstein. Cast bulls were topped at £1,380 for a Limousin and at 142p for a Shorthorn.

Two clean OTM heifers peaked at 185p for a Limousin Cross and averaged 181p.

Thirteen dairy cattle sold to £2,080 for a Holstein Friesian heifer and to £1,900 for a Holstein Friesian cow.

There was also a small show of breeding cattle forward at their first sale of the year.

Bulls sold to 1500gns for an Aberdeen Angus. Heifers with calves peaked at £1,420 for a Limousin with a Bull calf. In-calf heifers sold to £1500 for Limousins, while in-calf cows topped at £850 for a British Blue. Bulling heifers made up to £800 for Galloways.

Caledonian Marts sold 1,580 prime hoggets, ewes and tups at Stirling on Tuesday.

The overall sale average for 1,316 prime hoggets was 204p/kg (+2p on the week). Top price of the day was for a 58kg Beltex at £121 and top price per kg was for a pair of 44kg Beltex at 268p. Many Beltex types sold between £100 and £121 with 386 hoggets weighing over 45.6kg averaging out at £102.22 (+£4.15 on the week).

The 264 cast sheep at the sale were also dearer on the week, with top price of the day going to a pen of Texel ewes at £157. Heavy ewes averaged £94.62 and export ewes averaged £53.18.

Lawrie & Symington sold 419 store cattle at their opening sale at Lanark on Tuesday.

Bullocks sold to £1225 on two occasions and to 251p per kilo to average 209p. Heifers sold to £1280 and 230p per kilo to average 202p. Dairy-bred bullocks peaked at 165p/kg or £935 per head.

Messrs Craig Wilson sold 1221 prime and cast sheep at their opening sale of the year at Newton Stewart yesterday.

The 862 prime hoggets were a mixed show for quality but still managed to average 203p k/g. Many pens of export lambs sold between 211p k/g and 220p k/g; eventually topping at 227p k/g for a tremendous Beltex. Heavyweight butcher’s type Texels led the price per head when two pens sold at £106 each.

In line with other centres all classes of ewes sold at extreme rates to a top of £170 for pure Texels. Mule Ewes sold to £96 and Blackfaces peaked at £75.50 for a pen of 31.