Store cattle prices remain strong in Scotland, with many of the main March sales enjoying increased averages on the year – boosted by a national shortage of numbers.

At Thainstone, trade was up for both bullocks and heifers, with Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ reporting the highest yearling averages of the season so far. The 1067 bullocks, weighing an average 477kg, cashed in at 183.7p per kg, while 679 heifers scaling 434kg, levelled at 181.2p.

Both dairy and suckler-bred cattle were in demand at the Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart sale at Dumfries, with a full ringside of local and distant buyers ensuring a top of 221.3p per kg for Limousin cross bullocks and 214.3p for Charolais heifers.

All classes of cattle met a dear trade at Craig Wilson’s Ayr sale last week too, with demand outstripping supply, according to auctioneer Jim Craig.

At Lanark, 671 bullocks sold to average 191.6p and 590 heifers to level at 177.2p, with auctioneers claiming that numbers are falling year on year.