Camera at the mart attended the weekly sale of beef cattle at Ballymena Mart last week. A solid entry of 370 beef cattle were forwarded for trade and with factory prices having eased, there was a steadier trade compared with previous weeks.

Mart manager Sam McNabney commented on the sale, saying that cattle numbers remain strong for the time of year and that while prices have eased, the live trade is still paying good money for prime cattle.

The trade for cull cows reached a peak of £1,489 for a 760kg Limousin animal, making 196p/kg.

Heavy fleshed cows sold from £1,379 back to £1,279, or 176p to 189p/kg for good-quality types.

Feeding cows were met with steady buying demand, with a general price range of 164p to 175p/kg and prices of £890 to £1,110 depending on weight and fat cover.

Larger-framed cows were a much easier sell than smaller cows with some level of traditional beef breeding or dairy breeding present.

Friesian cows sold to 144p/kg, with a 760kg animal making £1,094. Other noted prices for fleshed Friesian cows were £984 for an 800kg animal, with £819 paid for a 630kg animal. Plainer Friesians sold back to 108p/kg.

Beef heifers sold to £1,322 for a 580kg Charolais animal, followed by £1,316 for a 580kg animal. Prices for top-quality lots ranged from 200p to 228p/kg.

There was a noticeable slowing of the trade at the top end of the market on slaughter-fit animals, with more cattle selling at the lower end of this price range.

Heifers weighing 500kg to 550kg and suited to intensive finishing sold from £1,028 to £1,111, with plainer types selling back to £958.

Beef bullocks sold to a top price of £1,515 on two separate occasions for a 750kg Charolais and a 750kg Hereford animal.

They were followed by £1,502 paid for a 740kg Charolais and £1,417 for a 650kg Angus animal.

Heavy fleshed Angus bullocks sold from £1,297 to £1,369, while continental types sold from £1,238 to £1,456.

Friesian bullocks sold to a top price of £1,262 for a 770kg animal with a general price range of 140p to 187p/kg.

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