By Neale McQuistin

Harrison & Hetherington Ltd sold 73 clean cattle, 60 cast cows, 1769 prime lambs and 491 cast sheep at St Boswells yesterday.

Twenty-two prime bullocks sold to a top of 246p/kg to average 228p (+7p), while 49 prime heifers peaked at 261p to average 234p (+3p).

In the rough ring cast cows sold to £1344 and 195p to average 138p (+5p).

Prime lambs peaked at £114 and 302p/kg for Beltex to average 217p overall (+10p).

Heavy cast ewes sold to a top of £129 for Suffolks and averaged £99, while light ewes peaked at £87 for Cheviots and averaged £62. All the cast sheep averaged just short of £77.

The firm also sold 14 prime heifers in Carlisle yesterday which peaked at 234p/kg and levelled at 195p (-12p), while 30 beef-bred bullocks sold to 238p and levelled at 205p (-5p).

Sixty-three beef-bred young bulls sold to 239p and averaged 187p (-22p), while 38 dairy-bred young bulls peaked at 185p and levelled at 149p (-4p).

In the rough ring 182 cast dairy cows sold to 159p to average 92p (-2p), while 113 cast beef cows peaked at 197p to average 119p (-2p). Eight cast bulls sold to 144p and levelled at 103p (-11p).

The 2492 prime lambs sold to £130 and 320p/kg to average 209/kg (+5p).

In the cast sheep section 115 heavy ewes peaked at £110 for a Suffolk and averaged £82 (+£4), while 39 hill ewes were topped at £63 for a Hill Cheviot and averaged £43 (-£12).

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 2193 prime lambs and 435 cast sheep at Ayr yesterday.

Prime lambs were a great trade with a top price of £109 for a pair of Beltex and for a pen of three Beltex. Top price per kilo was 255p for a pen of four Beltex lambs. The whole sale averaged 209p/kg (+3p).

Cast sheep were dearer on the week. Top price was a pure Texel ewe at £150. Blackfaces peaked at £61 for a pen of 19 and Mule ewes sold to £83.

Lawrie and Symington Ltd sold 59 prime cattle, one young bull and 73 cast cattle at Lanark yesterday.

Prime heifers sold to 260p/kg and to £1548, while bullocks sold to 252p and £1643 for the same animal.

Cast beef cows peaked at £1275 and 158p, while cast dairy cattle sold to £855 and 114p.

The 3513 prime lambs were dearer on the week with the sale peaking at £128 for Texels and to 304p/kg for Beltex. The overall average was 219p/kg.

A large show of 2322 cast sheep (including 1003 Blackfaces) saw trade sharper in all areas. The sale was topped at £158 for Texels and to £67 for Blackfaces.