Markets

Store cattle prices on the rise at Enniskillen

Numbers of forward store cattle were tight at Enniskillen Mart, leading to increased buying competition.

Kieran Mailey

Wed 28 February 2018 12:00 AM

Kieran Mailey

Wed 28 February 2018 10:00 PM

Store cattle prices on the rise at Enniskillen

This Limousin bullock, born June 2016 and weighing 494kg, sold for £1,200.

This Limousin bullock, born October 2016 and weighing 536kg, sold for £1,250.

This Limousin bullock, born July 2016 and weighing 546kg, sold for £1,220.

This Simmental heifer, born January 2017 and weighing 500kg, sold for £960.

This Limousin heifer, born May 2016 and weighing 440kg, sold for £925.

This Limousin heifer, born September 2016 and weighing 350kg, sold for £750.

This Charolais heifer, born April 2016 and weighing 656kg, sold for £1,320.

This Charolais bullock, born April 2016 and weighing 630kg, sold for £1,345.

This Charolais heifer, born April 2016 and weighing 450kg, sold for £720.

This Blonde D'Aquitaine heifer, born May 2016 and weighing 570kg, sold for £1,080.

This Angus heifer, born May 2016 and weighing 560kg, sold for £1,185.

This Charolais heifer, born May 2016 and weighing 540kg, sold for £1,115.

Camera at the mart attended the weekly cattle sale in Enniskillen Mart on Thursday last. There was another bumper entry of cattle with 1,070 animals forwarded for sale.

Cattle quality was extremely good across all six sale rings and with plenty of buying demand, prices were slightly higher than previous weeks.

Mart manager James Johnston commented on the sale, stating that numbers of good-quality forward stores are becoming tighter, which is increasing competition between specialist beef finishers.

With an exceptionally strong trade for forward stores, other buyers are turning to lighter cattle and weanlings, which has improved prices of these animals also.

In the bullock ring, prices peaked at £1,520 for a 764kg Charolais animal followed by several continental types weighing 598kg to 716kg making £1,425 to £1,450. The general trade for heavy bullocks was a price range of 190p to 242p/kg.

Mid-weight bullocks sold from 205p to 260p/kg for a 402kg Limousin animal weighing 402kg. Lighter types sold from 220p to 320p/kg for a 312kg Charolais which made £1,000.

Prices for heifers peaked at £1,350 for a 625kg Limousin animal. Forward lots sold from £1,205 to £1,290.

Mid-weight heifers sold from 195p to 226p/kg, with a 540kg Limousin animal making £1,225. Light types sold from 200p to 244p/kg, with a 410kg Charolais making £1,000.

Buyer demand for weanlings was firm, with steers and bulls selling to a top price of £1,090 for a 420kg Charolais. Other noted prices saw cattle weighing 300kg to 400kg sell from £810 to £990.

Heifer weanlings sold from £550 to £925 for a 326kg Charolais animal, with good-quality lots weighing 300kg to 400kg selling upwards from £750.

Cows with calves at foot sold to £1,880 for a Limousin with a heifer calf, while a Blonde cow and bull calf made £1,600. Other lots sold from £1,420 to £1,560, with a springing Charolais heifer making £1,670.

With strong demand from finishers, cull cows were a flying trade. Prices peaked at 200p/kg for younger continental animals that are slaughter-fit, with good-quality feeding cows making 150p to 180p/kg. Plainer cows and good Friesians sold to 142p/kg.