Camera at the Mart attended the weekly cattle sale in Keady Mart last Friday were there was another terrific show of livestock going under the hammer.
With high-quality cattle on offer, the trade was electric across all classes of stock.
Cattle throughput has been solid throughout the spring, but particularly over the past month, as farmers look to cash in on the growing buying demand for prime animals.
Mart manager Brendan Reavey commented on the sale, stating that the live trade has been extremely positive in recent weeks, with prices rising on the back of an improving beef trade.
He added that there has been a keener edge to competition for strong stores, as well as grazing types, with continental animals in particular a buoyant trade.
A strong presence of buyers around the sale ring led to a sharp trade for bullocks, with prices rising to a peak of £1,510 for a 715kg Limousin animal (211p/kg).
Heavy fleshed bullocks were a terrific trade, regularly selling above the 200p/kg mark for top-quality U grading animals.
Other stand-out prices saw a 635kg Limousin animal making £1,385, or 218p/kg, with several animals at similar weights selling close to the 215p/kg mark.
A 605kg Charolais made £1,260, with a 560kg Limousin selling for £1,220. Store bullocks sold to a top price per kilo of 222p/kg for a 525kg Charolais animal which made £1,165.
This was followed by £1,140 for a 570kg Charolais animal.
A limited entry of yearling bulls sold to a top price per kilo of 216p/kg for a 500kg animal which made £1,080.
Other entries sold for £1,210 for a 570kg Charolais animal and £1,120 for a 530kg Limousin.
Heifers were a flying trade, with prices peaking at £1,490 for a 795kg Charolais animal, followed by £1,360 for a 670kg Limousin and £1,355 paid on a 595kg Limousin.
Other noted prices saw £1,350 paid on a 710kg Charolais animal. Plainer types were a solid trade and although prices paid were lower compared with top-quality lots, plainer animals were still an easy sell.
Heifers sold to £1,180 on several occasions, most notably for a 600kg Charolais-cross animal and a 585kg Limousin type.
