Aberdeen & Northern Marts sold 135 cast cows and bulls at their weekly sale in Thainstone on Thursday. A better quality show of meat cows were forward and met a fiercely competitive trade.Topping the beef cows at £1,530 was a Simmental Cross cow from Berryleys, Grange and again for a Charolais Cross cow from Mains of Elrick, Auchnagatt. Beef cows averaged 150.1p per kg with the whole sale averaging £1,050.64.

A larger show of 18 cull bulls sold much dearer on the week topping at £1,730 for an outstanding Charolais from Messrs Milne, North Bethelnie and to 141.9p for a Limousin from Boulintogle, Scotscalder. Sale average was 122.4p per kg (+6.8p) or £1,289.72

Beef Cows (102) averaged 150.1p (-3p) and sold to 192.6p per kg for a 680kg Saler Cross from Mains of Haddo, Tarves and £1,530 gross twice. Firstly, for a 1,020kg Simmental Cross from Berryleys, Grange and secondly for a 960kg Charolais from Mains of Elrick, Auchnagatt. Dairy Cows (9) averaged 126p (+8p) and sold to 132.8p per kg for a 734kg British Friesian cross from Berriedale, South and £1,075 gross for a 834kg British Friesian from 4 Sibster, Wick. Boning Cows (6) averaged £590.83. Bulls (18) averaged 122.4p (+6.8p) and sold to 141.9p per kg for a 895kg Limousin from Boulintogle, Scotscalder and £1,730 gross for a 1,355kg Charolais from North Bethelnie, Oldmeldrum.

Leading Prices per Kg Beef Cows: Broadgreens, Turriff (LimX) 191.7p; Park Farm, Nairn 186p; Berriedale (BSHX) 182.2p; Hillside Farm, Dufftown (LRX), Mains of Glenbuchat, Strathdon (Lim) £179.7; Crannabog, Rothienorman (ChaX) 176.7p; New Moan, Dounby (LimX) 171.4p. Dairy Cows: 4 Sibster, Wick (BF) 129.9p; Flotterston House (FX) 126.9p. Bulls: Auchterblair, Carrbridge (Lim) 139.7p; Roadside, Swanbister (Cha) 128.2p; Clunycrichton, Banchory (Sim) 128.1p; North Bethelnie (Cha) 127.7p; Knocknagael, Inverness (Lim) 127.7p; Hoy, Castletown (Cha) 124p.

Leading Prices per Head Beef Cows: Dunecht Home Farms, Westhill (BSHX), Mains of Arnage, Ellon (SimX) £1,470; New Moan (LimX) £1,450; Cairnbeathie, Lumphanan (SimX) £1,430; Park Farm (LimX) £1,410; Mains of Haddo (SimX) £1,350. Dairy Cows: 4 Siblster, Wick (BF) £1,065; Berriedale, South Ronaldsay (BFX) £975; Flotterston House (HF) £875. Bulls: Hoy (Cha) £1,550; Blackriggs, Strichen (Cha) £1,490; Knocknagael (Lim), Easter Duthill, Carrbridge (AA) £1,430; Roadside (Cha) £1,410; Auchterblair (Lim) £1,390.