Cattle from a Powys farm set a new price record at a border livestock market this week - hot on the heels of a new top price being set at another local auctioneers.

Hot on the heels of Shrewsbury Auction Centre selling a bullock for a record £2,070, Bishops Castle Auction’s record was smashed as three cattle broke the £2,000 barrier, with the top priced steer making £2,170.

Auctioneers Halls saw a store cattle price record broken for the second week running at a Shropshire livestock market last week (February 15).

“The quality of cattle at Bishops Castle Auction is as good as it’s ever been and it appears that farmers are keeping the cattle longer and growing them bigger which is just what the market wants,” said auctioneer James Evans, a director of Halls.

“It’s great to see top quality stock commanding top quality prices and farmers being rewarded. So many farmers have stopped keeping suckler cows because of TB. Hopefully, these high prices will encourage those remaining to keep their suckler herds and perhaps encourage others to return to this industry sector.

“There is a premium for the best suckler-bred cattle and long may that continue.”

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The record-breaking steer was a Limousin from T. L. Bennett & Co, Tyn y Pant, Manafon who also sold the top priced heifer at £2,100 and 341p per kilo for a British Blue.

Top price per kilo for steers was 403p for a Limousin from NPTC Group of Colleges, Fronlas Farm, Newtown. Overall, steers averaged £1,380 per head and 290p per kilo at Bishops Castle while heifers averaged £1,285 per head and £280p per kilo.

A dozen bulls also sold extremely well to average £1,205 per head with top prices of £1,650, £1,535 and £1,440 from W. K. Watkin, Wheatsheaf, Sarn and £1,400 from H. S. Davies & Son, Yew Tree, Kerry.

Eager buyers crowded around the ring resulting in a total clearance, with only a few cattle not achieving in excess of £1,000.

Leading heifer prices were for British Blue cross: £2,100 per head and 341.50p per kilo for Messrs T. Bennett & Co, Tyn y Pant.

The Aberdeen Angus cross price was £1,245 per head and 270p per kilo for Messrs S. E. Goodall & E. W. Tuffin, Lodge Farm.

While the Hereford cross price came in at  £970 per head and 218p per kilo for Messrs G. R. & T. F. Jones, Great Weston Farm, Montgomery.

Bishops Castle & District Quality Cattle Association is holding a store cattle sale at Bishops Castle Auction on Thursday, February 29, including a special section of show potential cattle. Sponsored by the Farmers Guardian, the sale starts at 10.30am.

Halls will be holding a store cattle sale on Thursday, March 14, with entries closing on  Thursday, March 7 at 12 noon. Contact Halls on Tel: 01588 638755 for more information.