With a limited number of fat cattle at Ballymena Livestock Mart, sale prices were up on the previous week. A total of 270 beef cattle were brought forward for sale consisting of beef cows, Friesian cows, beef bullocks and heifers.
A 630kg Angus animal topped the bullock trade, selling for £1,430 (£2.27/kg). The main trade saw prices of £1.93/kg to £2.22/kg paid for good-quality animals. Friesian bullocks sold from £1.48/kg to £1.66/kg.
In the cow ring, good-quality fleshed continental cows sold to a top price of £1,292 (£2.02/kg) for a 640kg Limousin animal.
Other noted prices were £1,363 (£1.92/kg) for a Blue cow weighing 710kg, followed by a 660kg Limousin cow selling to £1,247 (£1.89/kg).
Good-quality cows sold from a general price range of £1.50/kg to £1.85/kg with plainer lots selling from £1.38/kg to £1.49/kg. Friesian cows sold to a top of £812 (£1.27/kg) for a 640kg animal. General prices ranged from £0.90/kg to £1.19/kg.
Beef heifers sold to a top price of £1,140 (£2/kg) for a 570kg Charolais animal. Most heifers sold from £1.75/kg up to £1.98/kg.
Strong steady trade as numbers tail off
Steady demand for quality forward stores
Calf prices firm with low supply
A guide to special and upcoming sales in the marts in the coming weeks