Camera at the mart attended the weekly cattle sale in Omagh Mart on Monday. With a big turnout of buyers looking for store cattle, there was brisk competition for all classes of stock.

Cattle prices remain strong on the back of a steady beef trade, with specialist finishers driving the trade.

Mart manager Eamon O’Kane commented on the sale, stating that store cattle numbers have tightened in recent weeks, especially for heavier cattle that are factory fit. With limited numbers of short-keep cattle, prices are holding firm.

He added that cattle quality remains good, which is also helping to maintain prices on lighter store cattle and good-quality weanlings.

A packed ringside of buyers led to a flying trade for bullocks. Prices peaked at £1,490 for a 718kg Limousin, followed closely by £1,450 for a 714kg Charolais-bred animal.

Heavy bullocks were an exceptional trade. Cattle weighing 600kg or more sold anywhere from £1,300 to £1,400, with the majority of cattle selling at the upper end of this price range.

A limited entry of heavy cattle saw buying competition filter through to lighter animals. Good-quality bullocks weighing 500kg to 600kg were also a super trade, with the bulk of the cattle selling from a price range of £1,140 to £1,260.

Lighter stores weighing 400kg to 500kg sold from £860 to £1,055, depending on quality.

In the heifer ring, limited numbers of factory-fit animals underpinned the trade. Prices peaked at £1,270 for a 575kg Limousin animal, with several continental lots at similar weights selling from £1,170 to £1,240.

Angus heifers sold to £1,250 for a 640kg animal, with Herefords selling to £1,240.

Lighter store heifers were a solid trade, with good-quality continental types selling from £980 to £1,100, with plainer types selling upwards from £780.

Demand for cull cows remains robust and prices continue to edge upwards. At the top of the market, good-quality beef cows carrying plenty of flesh sold to 214p/kg for a 620kg Charolais animal (£1,327).

The general trade for good cows saw prices of 170p to 200p/kg, with plainer animals making 140p to 160p/kg.