Corrie heifers sell to high of £4,200

In-calf heifers sold to a top price of £4,200 at the annual sale of suckler replacements offered by Will and Gareth Corrie, Newtownards.

Held at Ballymena Mart on 4 November, the “Leading ladies” sale is now a firmly established event and last week’s sale was by far the most successful to date.

Over 100 in-calf heifers were forwarded and sold to an average £2,490, up by £500/head on last year’s sale. One cow and calf outfit was also forwarded and made £3,500. All heifers sold are set to calve down to Limousin sires during January and February.

Swatragh

Meanwhile, on Friday evening, Swatragh Mart held a special sale of breeding heifers and again, animals were highly sought after.

Prices sold to a peak of £2,550 for a Blonde D’Aquitaine heifer with other standout prices of £2,400 for a British Blue and £1,900 for a Limousin.

Charolais peak at 6,200gns

The autumn sale of pedigree Charolais cattle at Dungannon Mart saw two bulls make 6,200gns.

Glencoe Phoenix, sired by Indurain and bred by P & V McDonald, Newry, was first to top the trade, followed by Fymore Price, sired by Killimor In Time and bred by S McCaughey, Augher.

The sale saw 15 bulls sell to an average of £3,674, up by £370 on the previous year.

Six heifers sold to an average of £3,867 with a top of 4,600gns for Bessiebell Olympic from J Smyth, Newtownstewart.

Self-employed COVID grant increases again

The level of financial support available under the self-employed income support scheme has been increased by the UK government again.

The third phase of the scheme will now cover 80% of average profits from November to January. It will be paid out in a single, taxable grant and will be capped at £7,500.