MONMOUTH Market report a very good show and sale at the Christmas Primestock Market on Monday despite the appalling weather conditions.
More than 20 prime cattle sold to an improved trade, topping at 315p kg for the overall champion beast which was bought by local butcher Bill James for the Cripple Creek Inn, near Raglan. Exhibited by Mr Ian Pugh, of Hillcrest, Three Ashes, the 525kg red limousin steer had been placed first in the show's best steer class before combining with Mr Pugh's other entry to win the best pair of butchers' cattle. The champion animal, winner also of the best butcher's steer class sponsored by Monmouthshire County Council, was sold for 315p kg, a cumulative total of £1,653.75.
The locally bred steer had been previously purchased from Monmouth at a store cattle sale by Mr Pugh, having been sold prior to this through the store cattle sale held in Abergavenny every Tuesday. The animal had changed hands only three times and had never moved more than around a 15 mile radius of Monmouth.
The excellent price for the steer lifted the spirits at the auction which saw the reserve champion from Mr D E Jones and Son, Llangattock Farm, Hendre, selling for 170p kg for their homebred Belgian Blue Cross Heifer who carried all before her in the heifer section.
Like the champion beast, the reserve champion is destined to end up on the menu at the Cripple Creek Inn, having been bought for £986 on the owners' behalf by Raglan butchers N H James and Son.
In the sheep section an excellent quality entry of lambs met a sharper trade, with spirited bidding throughout. The champion pen of lambs was awarded to Lyndon Edwards of Lower Llantrothy, Dingestow, for five excellent Texel cross lambs, which had previously won the Continental cross lambs' class with lambs not exceeding 40kg. At the auction the lambs sold for £43 a head to Mr Wayne Randall of Pontypool, another good supporter of Monmouth Market. Overall the lambs sold to an improved trade and levelled at 93.46pkg.
First prize in the cull ewe section was won by Mr Neil Squires of New House Farm, Little Mill. His ewes later sold for £45.50 to the class sponsors Mr P Jenkins, Llanfrechfa.