There was a small show of beef cattle in Ballymena Mart this week, with 270 cattle coming forward for sale. With limited numbers, trade was strong, with some exceptional prices being paid.

Beef cows sold to a top price of 214p/kg for a Charolais animal weighing 830kg (£1,776). The general trade for fat cows saw prices of 160p to 200p/kg for continental-type animals.

Friesian cows sold to a top price of 146p/kg for a 660kg animal (£963), with general sale prices ranging from 119p to 146p/kg.

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Beef heifers sold to a top price of 226p/kg for a 570kg Limousin animal (£1,288), with the general run of trade from 184p to 217p/kg, depending on quality.

Beef bullocks sold to a top price of 232p/kg for a 580kg Limousin animal (£1,345). Top-quality fleshed bullocks sold from 220p/kg to 230p/kg, with plainer types selling back to 218p/kg. Friesian bullocks were a solid trade with a top of 181p/kg for a 650kg animal (£1,176).