The fastest Prime Cattle trade in the South West at Truro this week, with an all-round quality entry of bullocks realising huge prices.

Joint top price of 440p/kg for both a 668kg Limousin steer from Mr W J P Julian of Summercourt, Newquay at £2,939 and a 672kg Limousin steer from Mr M A Grigg of Lower Sticker, St Austell at £2,957.

Top price heifer to 438p/kg (£2,983) for a 681kg Limousin from Mr M A Grigg, with his other topping Limousins at 436p/kg (£3,157) for a 724kg steer, 430p/kg twice for a pair of heifers at £2,301 and £2,752 respectively and a final heifer at 429p/kg (£2,793).

Another pair of quality Limousin steers from Mr W J P Julian next with prices at 419p/kg (£2,627) and 407p/kg (£2,719).

Other notable heifers to 390p/kg (£2,387) and 382p/kg (£2,380) for a pair of Limousins from Mr D L Grigg of Wheal Frances, Truro and the best Limousin from Mr R D Gendall of Cury Cross Lanes, Helston at 385p/kg.

The Cull prices continue to hold firm and well in-line with the Prime trade.

The best 761kg Charolais cow from F G Pryor & Son Ltd of Perranwell Station, Truro topped the day at 298p/kg (£2,268), with a good 698kg South Devon cow from Mr R D Gendall of Cury Cross Lanes, Helston parting away at 282p/kg.

The best three South Devon cows from Mr T G Hawke of Colan, Newquay realised 278p/kg (£2,002), 270p/kg and 263p/kg, with another Charolais from F G Pryor & Son Ltd at 256p/kg thereafter. Two more South Devons from Mr Hawke tied next at 255p/kg.

Dairy types topped at 264p/kg for an Ayrshire cow from Mr M Weatherill of Threeburrows, Truro, a Friesian cow from Messrs H M, C S & M A Rowe of Ruan Minor, Helston went under the hammer at 260p/kg and a Friesian cow from Messrs J A Sweet & Partners of St Newlyn East, Newquay made 250p/kg.

A Friesian cow from Messrs T A & A M Wills of St Erme, Truro sold away at 248p/kg and a Friesian cow from Messrs A D & J A Bray of St Martin, Helston at 245p/kg.

Cull bulls topped at 271p/kg and £2,702 for a shapey Blue from Messrs A P & S R Hooper of Castle-an-Dinas.

An excellent trade for the smart entry on offer, with steers topping at £2520 for a 29-month-old pair of quality Limousins on behalf of Messrs R A & L M Berry of Constantine, Falmouth who sold further Limousins to £2400.

Mr A Old of St Columb sold four 30-month-old Montbeliarde steers to £2320, followed by four 17-month-old shapey Limousins at £2270 on behalf of Messrs C R, I E & A M White of Helston.

Strong 30-month-old steers in from Mrs A Shazell of St Columb selling to £2180, £2145 and £2050, followed by a fine 2-year-old single Limousin from Mr R E Richards of Helston at £2005.

Mr N Michell of Redruth sold a 30-month-old Devon to £1980, followed by Mr R E Richards again with Devons to £1975 and £1900.

1½-year-old South Devon steers selling to £1930 and £1890 on behalf of Messrs R G T & G E Gilbert of Ruan Minor, Helston and Mr C R N Baker of Newquay respectively.

Younger steers selling to an eye-watering £2510 for a truly outstanding 14-month-old Limousin on behalf of Mr C P Rundle of Par, St Austell.

1-year-old steers then selling to £1720 for a pair of 13-month-old South Devons from Messrs J G Bosustow & Son of Ruan Minor, Helston followed by a single 13-month-old Angus at £1700 from Mr D Bell of Stithians, Truro.

Heifers topping at £1900 on behalf of both Mr R E Richards and Messrs C R, I E & A M White with Messrs White selling further 1½-year-old Limousin heifers to £1890 and £1685 whilst a trio of 23-month-old Limousins from Mrs M L Chapman of Silverwell, Truro realised £1605.

Mr F L Chapman of Silverwell, Truro sold heifers to £1535 and £1510, whilst the best of the young heifers topped at £1440 for a single 14-month-old Limousin on behalf of Mr C P Rundle.

Also of note were a grand bunch of seven 15-month-old pedigree Devon heifers from Mr D G M Patton of Coverack, Helston achieving £900 as part of his 25 strong consignment.

Cows and calves from Mr B Cowell of Helston sold to £2720 for Charolais and £2380 for Simmentals, whilst Mr L Pedley of Lostwithiel sold a Limousin outfit to £2560.

Much better numbers of calves around this week, with a huge ringside demand for all shapes and sizes and a firmer trade to match.

Best of the young calves to £615 for a stunning 4 week old Charolais bull calf from Messrs B & J Bailey from Veryan, Truro, followed by a run of strong 8 week old Blue steer calves from Messrs R N & D Jenkin of Manaccan, Helston with prices at £580 twice, £570 and £555.

A good pair of 4 week old Limousin bull calves from Messrs A D & J A Bray of St Martin, Helston realised £530 and £520. The best young Blue bull from Messrs J A Sweet & Partners of St Newlyn East, Newquay parted away at £490.

An 8-week-old Angus steer calf from Messrs Jenkin sold for £390, younger 4-weekold Angus bull calves from Messrs L M & C G Vian of Wendron, Helston made £385 and Mr W R Davey of Probus, Truro sold his same aged Angus bull at £380.

Heifer calves saw a similarly strong trade with a month-old Blue from Mr W R Davey at £355, with a same breed and age heifer from Mr N Monies of Zennor, St Ives close behind at £345.

Best Blue heifer from Messrs C J & P H George of Tresillian, Truro also away at £345, a Charolais heifer from Messrs H L, T & C Lyne from St Clement, Truro tied at the same money and a Blue heifer from Messrs H M, C S & M A Rowe of Ruan Minor, Helston sold for £330 thereafter.

Many other good calves forward which are too numerous to mention but a credit to their vendors.

A mixed entry forward. As with recent weeks, several pens of border-line finished lambs.

The well-fleshed lambs are in demand and more needed topping at £175 for a standout pair of butcher’s heavies from Mr M A Horrocks of Cubert, purchased by J V Richards Ltd of Perranwell Station.

Meaty 42kg handyweight Texels from Mr S G Collins of St Newlyn East set the premium at 346p/kg, sold to R J Trevarthen Ltd of Roskrow.

A shorter entry of ewes this week, the majority being smaller bodied or hill bred types, and only a handful of Continentals forward.

Top call of £170 for Texel x from Mr and Mrs J A Morphew of Wadebridge with further Texel x for them at £149 and £141.

Dorsets to £148 and £137 from Mr S Bishop of St Issey, Wadebridge. Charollais x to £146.50 from Mr P Gilbert of St Buryan, Penzance and £132 from Miss L Baker of Truro.

X bred ewes to £135 for Mr A Old of St Mawgan, Newquay. Suffolk x to £128.50 again for Mr Gilbert, and £128 again for Mr Old. Rams to £165 for a Charollais from Mr R S Dawe of Grampound, Truro.

A fast trade for the largest entry in years.

232 lambs selling to an average of £116 all in, with a top call of £134 for a pen from Mr J T Odgers of St Newlyn East, who went on to sell another pen at £125.50.

A pen of four fleshy Charollais from Mr W G Bray of Mullion, Helston achieved £130 followed by the pick of another large, top-quality run from Mr A Shazell of St Columb at £127.50.

Strong stores also in from Mr R S Dawe of Grampound, Truro and Mr S G Collins of St Newlyn East achieving £125.50 and £124.590 respectively.

Medium term types selling between £95 and £110, but all grades well contested.