In the last sale ahead of the July holidays, some strong prices were paid for cattle on Saturday 11 July in the mart run by Markethill Livestock and Farm Sales.

With farmers busy in the fields thanks to good weather and others taking a break over the holiday period, the numbers coming forward across all cattle marts are at a low-point for the year.

On Saturday, just over 50 heifers were offered to buyers, with prices peaking at the £2,450 paid for a three-year-old 658kg Limousin heifer (372p/kg), while her counterpart, a 656kg animal made £2,260 (345p/kg).

Other heavy cattle weighing over 600kg were also met with high demand, with a 654kg Simmental selling for £2,300 (352p/kg).

Even allowing for a high kill out of 57%, these prices equate to returns of well over 600p/kg at slaughter.

Among medium weights on offer, the top price was paid for a 496kg November 2024-born Charolais at £2,020 (407p/kg), while a number of other first quality heifers sold close to the 400p/kg mark. Plainer animals sold for in and around 320p to 350p/kg.

Strengthened

In general, prices paid in the marts have strengthened in recent weeks, with tight numbers on the ground and some upward momentum in factory prices.

That is reflected in mart prices reported by the Livestock and Meat Commission – over the last month the averages paid across first and second quality finished steers and heifers are up 10 to 30p/kg.