Camera at the Mart attended the weekly sale of fat cattle at Ballymena Mart last week, where a big entry of 406 head went under the hammer.
This Charolais bullock, weighing 656kg and 23 months old, sold for £1,226.
Prices on prime bullocks and heifers are holding firm on top-quality continental lots, but demand for plainer cattle has eased slightly.
This Limousin heifer, weighing 602kg and 21 months old, sold for £1,155.
In contrast, there is growing demand for cull cows, especially for young continental animals with good-quality conformation.
This Limousin bullock, weighing 634kg and 23 months old, sold for £1,172.
However, plainer cows originating from the suckler or dairy herd are also benefiting from more buying competition.
This Angus bullock, weighing 660kg and 23 months old, sold for £1,221.
Commenting on the sale, mart manager Sam McNabney said there are more buyers attending the weekly sale looking to pick up quality stock.
This Limousin bullock, weighing 728kg and 32 months old, sold for £1,368.
He also said that finishers were most active on good-framed cows that they could add value to through a short intensive feeding period.
This Charolais heifer, weighing 610kg and 20 month old, sold for £1,098.
The cow trade topped out at 194p/kg for a 690kg Blonde d’Aquitaine-bred animal, which realised £1,338 when the hammer fell.
Other stand-out lots saw another 790kg Blonde cow sell to 185p/kg, or £1,461, followed by a 730kg Limousin which went on to make 176p/kg, or £1,284.
This Charolais heifer, weighing 638kg and 20 months old, sold for £1,224.
Younger cows carrying plenty of flesh generally sold around the 160p to 180p/kg mark, with older lots back at 150p to 160p/kg.
This Limousin bullock, weighing 626kg and 30 months old, sold for £1,302.
Feeding cows sold from 140p to 160p/kg, depending on quality, with continental lots commanding greater bidding interest.
This Charolais bullock, weighing 712kg and 24 months old, sold for £1,438.
Friesian cows sold to 136p/kg for an 810kg animal, which made £1,101, while older lots sold from 115p to 127p/kg for a 530kg animal, which made £673. Feeding cows sold around the 100p/kg mark.
This Spreckled Park bullock, weighing 736kg and 27 months old, sold for £1,265.
Beef heifers sold to a top price of £1,244 for a 590kg Limousin animal, which made 211p/kg. Top price per kilo was 213p/kg, paid on a 560kg Simmental animal which made £1,192.
Fleshed continental heifers at the top of the market typically sold around the 190p to 200p/kg mark, with a bigger run of animals making upwards from 180p/kg.
This Limousin heifer, weighing 610kg and 26 months old, sold for £1,171.
Bullocks sold to £1,511 for a 730kg Limousin-bred animal, or 207p/kg. The top price per kilo was 211p paid on a 700kg Blonde d’Aquitaine, which made £1,477. Fleshed bullocks typically sold around 190p/kg with Friesians making 132p to 169p/kg.
Read more
Getting an extra £90/ha out of cows
UFU critical of UK tariff plan
Camera at the Mart attended the weekly sale of fat cattle at Ballymena Mart last week, where a big entry of 406 head went under the hammer.
This Charolais bullock, weighing 656kg and 23 months old, sold for £1,226.
Prices on prime bullocks and heifers are holding firm on top-quality continental lots, but demand for plainer cattle has eased slightly.
This Limousin heifer, weighing 602kg and 21 months old, sold for £1,155.
In contrast, there is growing demand for cull cows, especially for young continental animals with good-quality conformation.
This Limousin bullock, weighing 634kg and 23 months old, sold for £1,172.
However, plainer cows originating from the suckler or dairy herd are also benefiting from more buying competition.
This Angus bullock, weighing 660kg and 23 months old, sold for £1,221.
Commenting on the sale, mart manager Sam McNabney said there are more buyers attending the weekly sale looking to pick up quality stock.
This Limousin bullock, weighing 728kg and 32 months old, sold for £1,368.
He also said that finishers were most active on good-framed cows that they could add value to through a short intensive feeding period.
This Charolais heifer, weighing 610kg and 20 month old, sold for £1,098.
The cow trade topped out at 194p/kg for a 690kg Blonde d’Aquitaine-bred animal, which realised £1,338 when the hammer fell.
Other stand-out lots saw another 790kg Blonde cow sell to 185p/kg, or £1,461, followed by a 730kg Limousin which went on to make 176p/kg, or £1,284.
This Charolais heifer, weighing 638kg and 20 months old, sold for £1,224.
Younger cows carrying plenty of flesh generally sold around the 160p to 180p/kg mark, with older lots back at 150p to 160p/kg.
This Limousin bullock, weighing 626kg and 30 months old, sold for £1,302.
Feeding cows sold from 140p to 160p/kg, depending on quality, with continental lots commanding greater bidding interest.
This Charolais bullock, weighing 712kg and 24 months old, sold for £1,438.
Friesian cows sold to 136p/kg for an 810kg animal, which made £1,101, while older lots sold from 115p to 127p/kg for a 530kg animal, which made £673. Feeding cows sold around the 100p/kg mark.
This Spreckled Park bullock, weighing 736kg and 27 months old, sold for £1,265.
Beef heifers sold to a top price of £1,244 for a 590kg Limousin animal, which made 211p/kg. Top price per kilo was 213p/kg, paid on a 560kg Simmental animal which made £1,192.
Fleshed continental heifers at the top of the market typically sold around the 190p to 200p/kg mark, with a bigger run of animals making upwards from 180p/kg.
This Limousin heifer, weighing 610kg and 26 months old, sold for £1,171.
Bullocks sold to £1,511 for a 730kg Limousin-bred animal, or 207p/kg. The top price per kilo was 211p paid on a 700kg Blonde d’Aquitaine, which made £1,477. Fleshed bullocks typically sold around 190p/kg with Friesians making 132p to 169p/kg.
Read more
Getting an extra £90/ha out of cows
UFU critical of UK tariff plan
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: