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Camera at the mart attended the weekly calf sale at Ballymena Mart on Friday last where there was another bumper entry of calves.
Buying demand is exceptionally strong, resulting in a super trade for calves. Prices have been increasing week on week since the start of the year, following on from an extremely buoyant trade during the autumn and early winter of 2018.
A packed sales ring of buying agents was on hand looking for all classes and ages of calves. Stronger animals were a flying trade, with prices that would compare favourably with some lighter weanlings in the store ring.
Peak
Prices reached a peak of £460 on a couple of occasions, once for a Belgian Blue bull calf born in October 2018 and again for a Simmental bull calf born in December 2018.
Other standout prices saw £450 paid on a Belgian Blue bull calf born in December 2018 and £420 paid for a Simmental bull calf, again born in December.
Several beef cross bull calves sold beyond £400 for stronger animals with good frame and width. A big entry of Limousin bull calves sold to £350 on several occasions for well-bred December born animals displaying very little influence of Holstein genetics.
Angus bull calves were also in demand, with month old calves repeatedly making £250 to £300 and up to £360 being paid on some exceptional quality Angus animals.
Good quality
Hereford bull calves sold from £200 to £240 for good-quality animals while Shorthorn cross calves made £200 to £260.
Friesian bull calves were a firm trade, selling from £150 to £180 for autumn-born calves close to weaning age, while month-old calves were selling back at £50 to £80.
Fleckvieh bull calves were a sharp trade, with October-born animals making £315 and younger animals selling to £285.
Heifer calves sold well, with Limousin animals making £300 to £330 at the upper end of the market for month old and reared animals. Angus heifers sold for similar prices while Blue heifer calves made from £180 to £300.
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