There was a 100% clearance across a total of 295 cattle presented at Markethill Mart last Tuesday 18 November, to include over 60 lots pre-entered as part of the monthly dairy sale.

Among the dairy animals sold, fresh-calved two-year-old heifers peaked at £3,500, closely followed by £3,480. Most lots sold between £2,500 and £3,500, reflecting a continued appetite for dairy stock despite recent milk price drops. There were also some 18-month-old maiden heifers available, which sold from £1,000 to £1,270.

The good demand for dairy animals is partly being driven by the high incidence of bovine TB across NI, while the strong market for cull cows continues to underpin all the prices being paid.

Cull cows

In the cull sale, fat cows peaked at £2,600, 332p/kg for a 782kg Limousin, with the same price also being paid for an 814kg Aberdeen Angus at 319p/kg.

Beef-bred cows generally traded from 240p/kg to 290p/kg, while dairy-bred cows with good body condition were selling between 211p/kg to 240p/kg. Drop calves sold to a peak of £890, with the majority being Belgian Blues and Aberdeen Angus-bred between four weeks and eight weeks old, which sold for prices from £600 to £800/head.

This May 2023-born fresh calved Friesian heifer sold for £2,950.

This May 2024-born Holstein maiden heifer sold for £1,270.

This May 2024-born Holstein maiden heifer made £1,200.

This Belgian blue bull calf, born 29 October, made £790.

This Aberdeen Angus bull calf, born 3 November 2025, sold for £710.

These 2021-born Friesian fat cows weighed an average of 600kg and sold for £1,375, 230p/kg.

This November 2019-born Aberdeen Angus cow weighed 818kg and sold for £1,980, 242p/kg.

This April 2018-born Charolais cow weighed 778kg and sold for £2,140, 275p/kg.

This Limousin heifer, born 18 May 2024, weighed 596kg and sold for £2,260, 379p/kg.

This January 2022-born Jersey cross weighed 614kg and sold for £1,300, 211p/kg.

This January 2022-born Simmental cow weighed 730kg and sold for £2,110, 289p/kg.