Tight supplies and robust factory quotes saw strong demand at the ringside for forward stores and heavy beef cattle at Keady Mart last Friday 24 October.

In total, 170 lots were presented with a clearance rate of 100% achieved.

Online bids

Ringside bidders faced a fair bit of online competition with 35% of lots getting online bids and 20% of lots being sold online.

Cattle at the sale averaged £2,635 per head with a top price of £3,560, 359p/kg, paid for a 990kg Charolais steer.

This was closely followed by £3,420, 395p/kg, for another Charolais male at 865kg.

Strong prices in p/kg were paid for forward stores, with a consistent quality of lots on offer and high demand, with finishers keen to maintain numbers of cattle coming forward into the new year. Prices peaked at £2,650, 438p/kg, for a 605kg Charolais male, followed by, £2,990, 430p/kg for another Charolais male at 695kg.

In total, 25% of lots sold between 400 and 438p/kg, with a further 33% sold between 380 and 400p/kg and 33% making between 370 and 380p/kg.

This June 2023-born Charolais steer weighed 770kg and sold for £3,040, 394p/kg.

This May 2023-born Limousin steer weighed 765kg and sold for £3,080, 402p/kg.

This October 2023-born Charolais steer weighed 635kg and sold for £2,440, 384p/kg.

This June 2024-born Limousin steer weighed 655kg and sold for £2,680, 409p/kg.

This December 2023-born Limousin heifer weighed 565kg and sold for £2,390, 423p/kg.

This July 2023-born Limousin heifer weighed 535kg and sold for £1,970, 368p/kg.

This June 2023-born Limousin heifer weighed 745kg and sold for £2,680, 359p/kg.

This September 2023-born Charolais steer weighed 695kg and sold for £2,990, 430p/kg.

This April 2023-born Limousin steer weighed 670kg and sold for £2,530, 377p/kg.

This April 2024-born Charolais steer weighed 665kg and sold for £2,750, 413p/kg.

This June 2024-born Limousin male weighed 655kg and sold for £2,680, 409p/kg.