Camera at the mart attended the weekly cattle sale in Enniskillen Mart on Thursday last. Sale numbers have generally been lower than normal this summer. However, there was a noticeable increase in the number of cattle offered for sale last week.

Weather conditions affected demand throughout July, with fewer buyers coming from the east of the province.

Mart manager James Johnson commented on the sale, stating that there was an improved trade for weanlings this week, with plenty of good-quality continental types on offer.

He added that a special entry of suckler cows and calves were an exceptional trade with a strong ring of buyers, while demand for cull cows remains strong, especially for fleshed animals.

Prices for forward cattle are holding firm, thanks to limited numbers at this time of year. Bullocks peaked at £1,270 for a 658kg Charolais, followed by £1,265 for a 688kg animal. Other noted prices saw heavy bullocks sell from £1,100 to £1,200.

Heifers sold to a top price of £1,120 for a 600kg Charolais. Other noted prices saw a 516kg Charolais make £1,045 and a 430kg animal make £1,050. Forward heifers typically sold around 200p/kg, with lighter types making 180p to 210p/kg.

Prices for weanling cattle were up on the previous week. Male weanlings sold from £650 to a top price of £995 for a 359kg Angus-bred animal.

Continental types weighing 280kg to 320kg sold from £700 to £830, with heavier lots generally selling from £760 to £900.

Plainer cattle sold upwards from £650 to £700, depending on weight.

Weanling heifers sold from a price range of £520 to a top price of £860 for a 402kg Charolais animal.

Prices for cull cows hit a peak of £1,280 for a 716kg Charolais animal, with several lots selling from £1,060 to £1,220.

A big entry of cows and calves were in demand, with prices reaching a peak of £1,700 for a Limousin cow with a bull calf at foot.

Charolais cows with bull calves sold from £1,280 to £1,540, with Angus cows and calves selling to £1,240.

Belgian Blue cows with calves at foot sold to £1,420, while Simmental cows sold to £1,310.