Camera at the mart attended the weekly cattle sale in Camlough Mart last week. Cattle numbers remain solid across all classes of stock, with 280 animals forwarded for sale.

Prices are firm for weanlings, store cattle and cull cows, with a keen edge to buyer demand providing plenty of competition for good-quality lots.

Mart manager Brendan Reavey commented on the sale, stating that buyers are most competitive on forward cattle, with well-bred continental types commanding higher prices. He added that the trade for cull cows and cows with calves at foot continues to strengthen week on week.

Bullocks sold to a top price of £1,715 for a 760kg Angus-bred animal. Other noted prices saw heavy fleshed bullocks weighing 635kg to 710kg selling from £1,400 to £1,435, or 200p/kg to 222p/kg.

Short-keep bullocks were a super trade, with prices typically ranging from 210p to 233p/kg.

Good-quality store bullocks suited to grazing saw prices range from 214p to 241p/kg, with a 460kg animal making £1,110.

Heavy fleshed heifers were a flying trade, with prices peaking at £1,445 for a 640kg animal, with other noted prices seeing good-quality lots making £1,205 to £1,290.

Quality store heifers weighing 400kg to 500kg sold from £910 to £1,110, or 210p to 237p/kg, while plainer types sold closer to 200p/kg.

Lighter stores sold to 241p/kg, with a 340kg animal selling for £820, with a 370kg animal making £890.

Buyer demand for weanling cattle was firm, with continental types weighing over 300kg selling to a top price of 277p/kg, with a 310kg animal making £860, while a 325kg animal sold for £820.

Lighter weanlings below 300kg sold from 242p to 286p/kg, with a 220kg animal making £630.

Slaughter-fit cows are an exceptionally strong trade, with prices peaking at £1,625 for an 855kg animal.

General prices for fleshed cows ranged from 170p to 192p/kg, with several lots selling from £1,310 to £1,385. Feeding cows sold from 160p to 200p/kg depending on animal quality, weight and age.

Suckler cows with calves at foot sold to a top price of £1,790 for a 2013-born Limousin cow with a March born-bull calf at foot.