Averages: 39 cows and heifers served and or suckling, £2492.81; 15 served heifers, £2117.50;

14 maiden heifers, £1168.50; three young bulls, £2537.50.

TOP price at Mark Lea's major reduction of the Ellesmere Limousin herd from Lee Bridges, Ellesmere, Shropshire, was 4500gns, paid for a cow and calf unit.

Th sale, staged at Welshpool, first saw the four-year-old cow, Ellesmere Ida, a daughter of the French sire, Uskudar, out of a home-bred cow by Brockhurst Marshall, sell for 2800gns to RW and CS Richards, Park Farm, Craswell, Hereford. She sold due in April to Ellesmere Hugo.

The same buyer then went to 1700gns, for her 11-month-old bull calf, Ellesmere Monty, by Donzenac, with the total amounting to 4500gns.

Wrexham breeder, CP Goulding, The Yews, Penley, then went to 2700gns for Ellesmere Givale, a rising six-year-old by the Shire Unclebill son, Ellesmere Byron, out of a home-bred daughter of Goldies Tango. She also sold due in April to Hugo.

Top priced calf at 1600gns was Ellesmere Mario, a similarly aged bull calf by Cowin Fendigeidfran, bought by K and H Griffiths, Glyn Meibion Uchaf, Caernarfon.

Leading the bull trade at 3200gns was the 18-month-old Ellesmere Lost, another by Hugo. The buyers were Powell Partners, Upper Newton, Newton, Hereford.

Red House Farm, Aberhafesp, Newtown, Powys, bought the four highest priced disclosed served heifers. The dearest at 2750gns, Ellesmere Jatiere, by the Objat son, Ellesmere Duke, sold AI'd to Euphrate, then ran with the home-bred Hugo.

Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington and Welshpool Livestock.