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Camera at the mart was at the weekly store cattle sale at Armoy Livestock Mart, Co Antrim, on Monday. Mart manager Danny McAlister commented on a sharper trade for cattle, with a good mix of buyers. A total of 218 head of cattle was offered for sale. The trade for quality forward stores was exceptionally strong.
Top-quality continental stores weighing 550kg to 600kg sold from a general price range of £1.80/kg to £1.95/kg (€2/kg to €2.20/kg).
Plainer cattle at similar weights sold from £1.55/kg to £1.72/kg (€1.75/kg to €1.94/kg). Lighter stores weighing 460kg to 550kg were also a good trade, with good-quality continental types selling from £1.90 to £2.04/kg (€2.13 to €2.25/kg).
A good entry of Friesian bullocks were met with a steady trade. Heavy fleshed Friesian bullocks sold to £1.50/kg (€1.68/kg). Bullocks suited for further feeding or with more Holstein breeding sold to £1.20/kg (€1.34/kg).
Springing heifers were an excellent trade, with plenty of farmer demand. Blue-cross heifers due to calve from December onwards sold to an average of £1,500 (€1,685), with a top price of £2,040 (€2,292).
Limousin- and Simmental-cross heifers sold from a general run of £1,300 to £1,600 (€1,460 to €1,797). Spring-calving heifers sold to similar prices.
Listen to a discussion of current beef and cattle prices in our podcast below:
Listen to "Beef prices under pressure" on Spreaker.
Ringside comment: farmers are more active but quality waning
Positive start to dairy trade in a difficult year
Steady trade for quality stock in Enniskillen
Slightly improved trade over the weekend
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