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Camera at the mart attended the general cattle sale in Ballymena Mart on Friday last, where dairy cows, suckler outfits, weanlings and dairy calves went under the hammer.
Sales of dairy calves and weanlings remain buoyant, with strong buying demand from farmers, while cow and calf outfits are steady. Freshly-calved dairy heifers are also a good trade, with limited numbers on offer helping to under-pin prices.
Commenting on the sale, mart manager Sam McNabney said that cattle have been a terrific trade throughout the autumn, especially for weanlings and stronger stores. Prices are holding firm, with stronger continental lots an easy sell.
He added that dairy calves in particular have been a super trade, with strong prices being paid relative to older cattle.
In the dairy ring, there were 35 animals forwarded for sale, consisting of freshly-calved heifers, as well as cows in their second and third lactations.
Prices varied depending on the quality of stock being offered, with plainer animals and cows a much slower trade. Prices peaked at £2,200 for a Holstein heifer born in August 2016.
The animal calved just over one week prior to sale and was giving upwards on 30 litres of milk daily. This was followed by £2,000 being paid for another freshly-calved heifer from the same farm.
Other noted prices saw £1,780 to £1,900 being paid for strong heifers with plenty of frame and condition, sound on their feet, calved between one and two weeks prior to sale and yielding 25 to 30 litres daily.
Cows in their second lactation were selling from £850 to £1,250, with third-calving cows selling to £1,000.
Dairy calves sold to £505 for a strong Angus bull calf, with similar types making £305 to £460. Belgian Blue calves sold to £430, with Limousin calves making £355 for a heifer.
Simmental calves were in demand, selling to £470 for bull calves and £430 for heifers. Friesian calves sold to £200 for strong bull calves, while younger lots sold upwards from £80.
Suckler weanlings were a flying trade, selling to a top price of £1,010 for a 320kg Charolais bullock, with heifers selling to £890 for a 300kg Charolais.
Suckler cows sold to £1,600 for a Belgian Blue and bull calf while in-calf heifers sold to £1,880.
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