Camera at the Mart paid a visit to the weekly dairy sale at Kilrea Livestock Mart, Co Derry. There was a smaller than usual sale of cattle on offer this week after some stronger sale entries earlier in the month.

Entered in this week’s sale was a mix of freshly calved heifers, springing cows and bulling heifers. Also presented for sale was a special entry of maiden Ayrshire heifers, all of which were fully pedigree registered.

The small entry of calved heifers reached a sale-topping price of £2,520 (€2,831). The September 2015-born animal pictured above is calved little more than one week and commanded several buyers’ interest.

Other prices saw freshly calved heifers being bid to £1,750 (€1,966), but leaving the ring unsold. Springing cows settled in-calf to an Angus bull sold to £605 (€679).

Maiden heifers born March to May 2016 sold from £660 to £800 per head ( €674 to €899) for Holstein animals. The sale of Ayrshire heifers was a slower trade, with buyers looking to keep within a budget.

Late autumn-born 2015 heifers sold to £660 (€741), with 2016 spring-born heifers generally selling from £440 to £460 (€494 to €516), depending on size and quality. A few stronger-framed heifers born in spring 2016 sold from £470 to £480 per head (€28 to €539).