Camera at the mart attended the weekly cattle sale at Markethill Mart, Co Armagh, on Saturday. Mart manager Hampton Hewitt commented on an increased sale entry of 840 cattle, with plenty of quality lots on offer.

Trade was firm, with good-quality forward stores carrying flesh in greatest demand. There were buyers from right across Northern Ireland, as well as buyers sourcing cattle for exporting to Britain.

Bullocks sold to a top price of £1,130 (€1,296) for a 508kg Charolais animal, closely followed by £1,125 (€1,264) for a 520kg Charolais animal.

Good-quality forward stores generally sold from 200p to 220p/kg (224c to 247c/kg). Mid-weight bullocks over 400kg sold at a general price range of 200p to 231p/kg, with lighter cattle below 400kg selling at similar prices.

Friesian bullocks peaked at £900 (€1,011) for a 536kg animal, with most lots making 130p to 156p/kg (146c to 172c/kg).

Heifers continue to sell strongly, with a top price of £1,320 for a 650kg Limousin animal. Forward heifers made 190p to 223p/kg (213c to 250c/kg). Mid-weight heifers sold from 195p to 233p/kg.

Almost 200 weanlings were brought forward for sale with demand holding steady. Top-quality heifer weanlings sold to £930 (€1,044) for a 374kg Belgian Blue, while male weanlings sold to £930 for a 430kg animal.

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