Camera at the mart paid a visit to the weekly cattle sale at Markethill Livestock Mart on Saturday last. There was a good entry of cattle on offer, with 550 animals forwarded.

With store cattle quality extremely high, there was brisk bidding from a strong ringside of buyers, leading to firm prices being paid.

Mart manager Hampton Hewitt commented that cattle numbers are good for the time of year. He added that there are plenty of buyers looking for good-quality forward cattle and they are paying strong prices for them.

The trade for heifers continues to be firm, with forward short-keep animals in greatest demand. Prices peaked at £1,490 on two occasions for a 638kg animal and another weighing 650kg.

Other noted prices on heavy lots saw good-quality U grade animals selling from 215p to 230p/kg, with several lots making £1,240 to £1,400.

Mid-weight heifers sold to £1,130 for a 470kg Belgian Blue animal, with many other lots making £950 to £1,070, depending on weight and quality. Prices averaged 200p to 220p/kg on good-quality lots, with plainer animals making 175p to 190p/kg. Overall, 240 heifers were forward for sale and sold to an average £970.

A smaller entry of 130 bullocks were an exceptional trade and, again, heavy fleshed animals were realising higher prices. The trade peaked at £1,400 on a couple of occasions for a 702kg Limousin and a 720kg Charolais animal.

Forward bullocks sold from 200p to 221p/kg, with several lots selling from £1,240 to £1,330. Angus bullocks peaked at £1,350 for a 650kg animal. Heavy fleshed Friesian cattle sold to 186p/kg, with the main price range at 140p to 166p/kg.

Mid-weight bullocks sold from 200p to 234p/kg for continental types, with £1,180 paid on a 528kg animal.

There was an entry of 180 weanlings forwarded, with quality being much more variable compared with the store ring.

Bull weanlings sold to a top price of £925 for a 396kg animal, with a 262kg Charolais animal making £855 (326p/kg). Top-quality lots generally sold from £720 to £900.

Weanling heifers peaked at £790 for a 258kg animal, with the main trade seeing prices of £600 to £740 for continental types.