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Camera at the mart attended the weekly cattle sale in Armoy Livestock Mart on Monday night. Cattle numbers forwarded for sale have eased in recent weeks and Monday’s sale saw 170 cattle offered for sale.
The bulk of cattle on offer was strong stores, with a big entry of Angus and Hereford types, which were met with solid buying demand from specialist finishers.
A limited entry of cull cows was a steady trade, with younger animals and cows carrying flesh an easier sell compared with plainer cows with some level of dairy breeding present.
With a more seasonal sale, cattle quality was variable. However, buying demand is holding reasonably steady and good-quality cattle continue to command strong prices.
Mart manager Danny McAllister commented on the sale, saying that the cattle trade has eased in recent weeks as beef prices slip, but that good-quality cattle are holding their value.
A big showing of store bullocks sold to a top price of £1,360 for a 650kg Angus animal, followed closely by £1,315 and £1,300 paid for another Angus animal weighing 610kg to 620kg.
Angus bullocks in general sold upwards from £1,140 to £1,280 for cattle weighing 560kg to 590kg, giving a general price range of 200p to 216p/kg.
Hereford bullocks sold from £980 rising to £1,105 for animals weighing 550kg to 580kg.
Simmental bullocks sold to £1,145 for forward types weighing 580kg to 600kg, with plainer types selling back to £840 depending on weight.
Belgian Blue bullocks sold to £1,145 for a 585kg animal, with Limousin cattle selling to £1,285 for a 620kg animal.
Light store bullocks weighing 450kg to 550kg were a slower trade and buyer demand was heavily reliant on cattle quality.
Good-quality Angus or continental types were limited in number, but, when offered, prices ranged from £900 to £1,060.
A small entry of store heifers sold to £1,310 for a 600kg Limousin animal, with forward Angus and continental types selling from £1,000 to £1,125. Mid-weight stores sold from £900 to £1,045.
Cull cows sold to £1,100 for a 755kg Limousin animal, with Angus cows selling to £940 for a 775kg animal.
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