Over 1,200 cattle in demand at Clogher

Saturday 11 April saw 1,232 head of cattle go through the rings at Clogher Mart.

While recent reports suggest the trade for lightweight cattle has eased a little amid a very difficult spring, the prices paid for other classes of stock remain firm.

In the fat cow ring, animals sold to a top of £3,516 paid for a 940kg Charolais at 374p/kg, while an 850kg Blonde d’Aquitaine cow made £3,213 (£378p/kg).

Other good quality beef cows sold from 326p/kg, with second quality animals around the 302 to 322p/kg mark.

Friesian cows sold to a top of £1,974 for 710kg at 278p/kg, with similar well-fleshed lots selling from 262p to 272p/kg. Plainer cows made from 212p to 246p/kg, with poorer cows at 184p to 202p/kg.

Steers

In the steer ring, the top price was the £3,474 paid for a 1,040kg Limousin (334p/kg), with a 780kg Charolais at £3,120 (400p/kg).

Forward stores sold to £2,540 for a 590kg Charolais at 431p/kg, while medium weight steers sold to £2,110 for a 485kg Limousin (435p/kg). The top priced fat heifer was the £2,670 paid for a 635kg Limousin (420p/kg), with a couple of lighter heifers crossing the 500p/kg mark, including a 370kg Charolais at £1,950 (527p/kg).

Dairy cows and heifers sold to £2,800 and £2,500, with suckler outfits selling to £4,520 for a Limousin heifer with Limousin heifer calf at foot.