This is a subscriber-only article
Camera at the mart attended the Christmas show and sale of beef cattle at Keady Mart on Friday last.
With standing room only around the sale ring and an entry of 300 head, there was an electrifying sale from start to finish.
Bidding competition was fierce, with continental-type animals leading the way on price. Mart manager Brendan Reavey commented on the sale, saying that it was undoubtedly one of the most successful sales to be held in the mart.
He added that cattle quality was absolutely outstanding and this was definitely a factor in the level of prices being paid on the day.
A 775kg Charolais bullock born in December 2016 set the tone early in the sale when it was sold for £2,050.
Other standout prices saw a 725kg Belgian Blue-bred animal making £1,700. Slaughter-fit bullocks sold in general from 245p to 265p/kg, with a few outstanding lots making as far as 270p/kg.
This put the price range for animals forwarded for sale to £1,600 to £1,900, with conformation heavily influencing sale value.
Heifers
Heifers in particular were a flying trade, with a big showing of heavy fleshed slaughter-fit animals. Charolais and Limousin types commanded a lot of buyer attention and prices escalated quickly.
Buying trends followed a similar pattern, with a 655kg Charolais animal born in February 2017 selling to £1,950, which converts to a price per kilo of 297p/kg.
Other standout prices saw a 650kg Limousin animal selling for £1,610, or 248p/kg, with a 660kg Charolais making £1,590, or 241p/kg.
Several Limousin-type heifers weighing 605kg to 660kg sold from £1,400 to £1,420 giving a price range of 230p to 245p/kg.
Strong store heifers below 600kg liveweight were also a super trade, with a 595kg Charolais-bred animal selling for £1,525. Born in March 2017, she made 256p/kg.
Other noted prices saw another 595kg Charolais animal selling for £1,440, with this November 2016-born animal selling for 242p/kg.
A 545kg Charolais-cross heifer born in March 2017 saw the hammer fall at £1,255, converting to a price per kilo of 230p/kg.
SHARING OPTIONS: