On a crazy week where we saw Donald Trump elected as the American president, it feels like we've jumped straight into winter. The trees are getting bare and we've even seen snow on a couple of days.

We've had a couple of new additions this past week. One was a fair sized Charolais bull calf and the other was in the shape of a black labrador pup. Both are doing well, although the pup appears a tad more demanding and time consuming than the calf!

Good trade was seen at some of this week's Mart's the Heart sales. Suffolk trade at Wright Marshall was strong, topping at 2,400gns for the champion three-crop ewe from the Knockem flock. Salers at Castle Douglas saw a bull break breed records selling for 11,000gns and, at Middleton in Teesdale, the champion - a six-month-old Limousin-sired heifer - sold for £3,100.

There's been a bit of a lift in the prime trade at the beginning of the week, so let's hope this colder weather encourages that to continue as we get nearer to Christmas. The next thing will be Christmas fatstock shows and sales!

Have a good week!

Steph Ryder