Steady trade for cattle at Markethill Mart

After a recent price correction on the back of lower returns for finished cattle, trade was generally steady at the latest Saturday cattle sale held at Markethill Livestock Market in Co Armagh.

Heavy heifers sold to a top price per kg of 346p for a 612kg animal at £2,120, followed by 345p/kg for a 652kg heifer at £2,250. The top price per head was a 726kg Charolais at £2,380 (328p/kg).

The main run of good-quality lots sold for prices from 300p to 340p/kg.

Lighter heifers suited to grazing sold to a top of 394p/kg for a 424kg animal at £1,670.

In the bullock ring, the top price was the 363p/kg paid for a 606kg lot at £2,200, while the top price per head was the £2,570 paid for a 778kg (330p/kg) Hereford.

Good-quality sorts close to slaughter, generally made around this 330p/kg mark. Mid-weight bullocks sold to a top of 366p/kg for a 402kg animal at £1,470, while forward stores sold to 367p/kg for a 588kg animal at £2,160.

Weanlings

Demand was sharp for weanlings, with prices of over 500p/kg paid for exceptional lots, including a 272kg male which sold for £1,510 (555p/kg)

In the suckler ring, in-calf heifers sold to £3,000 paid twice for Limousins.

Outfits sold to a top of £2,820 for a Hereford cow and a bull calf at foot.