This is a subscriber-only article
Camera at the Mart attended the weekly cattle sale in Swatragh Mart on Monday, where there was a smaller more seasonal entry of cattle forwarded.
While cattle numbers were down, prices were holding steady on previous weeks and this was reflective of the quality of animals on offer.
The holiday weekend affected the number of buyers in attendance, with fewer people competing for cattle. However, limited numbers kept a floor in the trade.
Commenting on the trade, mart manager Paul Coyle said that lower beef prices have been affecting the live trade in recent weeks.
However, despite this, good quality remain a steady trade and buyers are most active on top-quality continental lots.
He added that while cattle throughput has slowed in recent weeks, numbers are in line with previous years and for the year to date.
A good entry of store heifers helped to underpin prices, with lighter and mid-weight types mostly on offer.
Heifers sold to a top price of £870 for a good-quality Charolais weighing 488kg, giving a price per kilo of 178p/kg.
This was followed by £830 being paid on two occasion for lighter store heifers.
The first occasion was for a 388kg Limousin animal born in April 2018, with the animal selling for 214p/kg.
The second occasion was for a 400kg Blonde d’Aquitaine animal, born March 2018 and selling for 208p/kg.
Other noted prices saw a 410kg South Devon heifer selling to £800 or 195p/kg. This was followed by a 398kg Limousin making £760, or 190p/kg.
A 458kg Hereford heifer sold for £755 and had been running with a Limousin bull since April, although not confirmed in-calf.
Cull cows sold to £980 or 133p/kg for a 736kg Limousin born in April 2012. This was followed by £955 paid for a 616kg Limousin cow born in January 2015, giving a price per kilo of 155p/kg.
Other cull cows sold for £800 for a 578kg Limousin animal and £660 for a 578kg Blonde d’Aquitaine animal.
A small entry of bullocks were a sticky trade, with several good-quality continental lots weighing 450kg to 500kg going unsold, with bidding exceeding the £1,000 mark. Bullocks sold to £830 for a 396kg Limousin animal or 210p/kg.
SHARING OPTIONS: