Camera at the mart attended the weekly cattle sale in Omagh Mart on Monday. With ground conditions starting to soften, there was a bigger entry of cattle forwarded for sale, with 420 store animals going under the hammer.

Cattle quality was exceptional across the bullock and heifer ring and this helped to attract strong buying interest, with forward continental types suited to a short period of intensive finishing in particular being met with strong demand.

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On the day, cattle were a super trade, with both sale rings packed with buyers who were eager for stock.

Mart manager Eamon O’Kane commented on the sale, saying that cattle prices have been improving across all classes of stock, as buying competition grows.

He added that more farmers are looking to offload cattle now while they are in good flesh and in saleable condition, rather than carrying animals over winter to sell next spring.

In the bullock ring, prices reached a peak of £1,695 for a 795kg animal, making 213p/kg. Other noted prices for heavy fleshed cattle saw Charolais and Limousin types weighing over 650kg selling upwards from £1,400 towards £1,500.

Short-keep bullocks over 600kg sold from £1,290 to £1,370 for continental and Angus types. Bullocks over 500kg were also a sharp trade, with prices for good-quality lots ranging from £1,085 to £1,280, or 210p to 216p/kg, with plainer types selling upwards from 180p/kg.

Lighter bullocks under 500kg sold from £850 rising to £1,100 for cattle weighing 365kg to 435kg.

In the heifer ring, prices hit a peak of £1,310 for a 465kg animal sold for breeding. Fat heifers sold to £1,285 for a 600kg animal, with other noted lots making £1,100 to £1,255 for short-keep cattle weighing over 500kg.

Mid-weight heifers over 400kg sold from £935 rising to £1,045, with lighter animals making upwards from £700 depending on liveweight and cattle quality.

Fat cows sold to 193p/kg for a 530kg animal, making £1,022. Other noted prices saw a 680kg animal make 185p/kg or £1,258, with a 630kg animal selling to 176p/kg, or £1,108.

Fleshed cows typically sold from 170p/kg to 190p/kg, with feeding cows remaining a solid trade with prices of 140p to 160p/kg.