United Kigdom-Cattle markets-Ludlow.

LUDLOW MARKET, MONDAY, MARCH 9 Finished Cattle - 457: An excellent trade. Plenty of buyers in attendance. Steers peaked at 196.0p, heifers at 202.5p and bulls 188.0p. More could have been sold to advantage.

Prices were as follows: Light steers: Standard quality to 159.5p, ave 155.0p; also rans to 145.5p; overall average 149.7p.

Medium steers: Best quality to 174.0p, ave 168.8p; standard quality to 161.5p, ave 157.9p; also rans to 147.5p; overall average 154.0p.

Heavy steers: Best quality to 196.0p, ave 176.2p; standard quality to 163.0p, ave 156.7p; also rans to 146.5p; overall average 160.7p.

Light heifers: Standard quality to 164.5p, ave 161.5p; also rans to 149.5p; overall average 153.0p.

Medium heifers: Best quality to 183.5p, ave 171.5p; standard quality to 164.5p, ave 158.3p; also rans to 149.0p; overall average 157.5p.

Heavy heifers: Best quality to 202.5p, ave 176.5p; standard quality to 164.5p, ave 157.5p; also rans to 149.5p; overall average 160.0p.

Light bulls: To 164.0p, average 152.5p.

Medium bulls: To 183.5p, average 153.8p.

Heavy bulls: To 188.0p, average 159.6p. Barren Cows - 95: A super trade with a Belgian Blue cow up to 176.0p and an overall average of 123.9p. Several Friesians way above 120.0p this week. More needed.

Prices were as follows: Grade 1 cows to 176.0p, ave 138.8p Grade 2 cows to 129.5p, ave 120.1p Grade 3 cows to 115.0p, ave 105.7p Grade 4 cows to 99.5p, ave 82.6p Old bulls to 121.0p, ave 117.5p Heifers to 126.5p, ave 124.7p Steers to 162.5p, ave 153.6p Overall average 123.9p/kg.

Finished Sheep - 2,663 Nowhere near enough hoggets for the buyers present, more needed. Hoggets peaked at 189.5p. Quality was at a marked premium.

Prices were as follows: Light hoggets to 158.0p, ave 158.0p Standard hoggets to 180.0p, ave 174.5p Medium hoggets to 189.5p, ave 176.6p Heavy hoggets to 182.5p, ave 166.7p Overweight hoggets to 170.0p, ave 159.0p.

Export quality hoggets sold up to 189.5p per kilo and averaged 178.6p per kilo and home trade hoggets sold up to 174.5p per kilo and averaged 171.3p per kilo.

The killing ewes on offer were a super trade. The prices seem to go up each week with ewes reaching £111.50 and an overall average of £68.20, killing rams to £69.50, average £57.00.