Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd had a plainer show of 1395 prime lambs forward at Ayr yesterday when leaner lambs again proved very hard to cash. Top prices on the day were £90 per head (on two occasions) and 183.7p per kg with the final average levelling at 168.3p (-4.1p on the week).

Another big show of cast sheep saw 424 heavy ewes sell to £139.50 for a couple of Texels and average £78.20, while 401 light/export-type ewes peaked at £57.50 for Blackfaces and levelled at £46.99.

Harrison & Hetherington Ltd sold 32 prime heifers in St Boswells yesterday to a top of 247p per kg and an average of 223p (-9p), while 18 prime, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 238p and levelled at 217p (-10p). A prime bull fetched 159p.

In the rough ring 38 beef cows sold to 187p and averaged 142p (no change).

There was also a good show of 1575 prime lambs that sold to £100 and 206p to average 175.8p (+3p).

The 633 cast sheep forward saw heavy ewes sell to £99 for a Texel and average £87, while light ewes peaked at £63 for Cheviots and levelled at £48.

The firm also sold 15 prime heifers in Carlisle yesterday to a top of 236.5p and an average of 202.4p (-5.5p), while 22 prime, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 232.5p and levelled at 211.4p (-1.1p). A couple of prime, dairy-bred bullocks sold to 203.5p and averaged 188.5p (no comparison). Forty-eight prime, beef-bred bulls sold to 227.5p and averaged 202.1p (+4.6p), while 18 prime, dairy-bred bulls peaked at 179.7p and levelled at 159.7p (+1.6p).

In the rough ring 153 beef cows sold to 214.5p and averaged 135.3p (+7.9p), while 297 dairy cows peaked at 154.5p and levelled at 98.7p (+0.7p). Thirteen bulls sold to 185.5p and averaged 129.8p (+14.8p).

There were also 1526 prime lambs that sold to £96.80 and 220p to average 171.6p (+1.6p).

A larger show of 274 heavy cast ewes sold to £107 for Texels and averaged £59.09, while 60 light ewes peaked at £34.50 for Swaledales and levelled at £24.35.

Lawrie & Symington Ltd sold 13 prime heifers in Lanark yesterday to a top of 257p and an average of 248p (+6p), while 10 prime, beef-bred bullocks peaked at 251p and levelled at 242p (+3p). Seven prime, B&W bullocks sold to 168p and averaged 149p (no comparison).

In the rough ring 74 beef cows averaged 127p (-1p) and 60 dairy cows levelled at 99p (-5p). Five bulls averaged 122p (+7p).

There was also a large show of cast sheep forward when 932 heavy ewes sold to £139 for a Texel and averaged £63.79, while 806 light ewes peaked at £60 for a Cheviot and levelled at £35.86.