Camera at the mart attended the weekly cattle sale at Ballymena Livestock Mart on Friday last. There was another good entry across all cattle types, with mart manager Sam McNabney commenting on a solid trade for good-quality store cattle and weanlings.

He added that prices have been firmer in recent weeks with the early payment of BPS money resulting in more buyers entering the mart looking to source cattle to finish or carry over winter.

On the day, there were over 400 weanlings forwarded for sale. Bullocks sold to a peak of £900 for a 350kg Limousin animal.

Heavy weanlings weighing over 350kg liveweight sold from a general price range of £755 up to £855, or 204p to 226p/kg for good-quality continental types.

Lighter weanlings weighing 300kg to 350kg sold from £700 to £900 at the top end of the market, or 229p to 257p/kg. Lighter bullocks less than 300kg were a slower trade, selling from £570 to £660/head.

The trade for heifer weanlings peaked at £770 for a 320kg Limousin animal. Heavier weanlings weighing over 350kg were limited, but good-quality lots on offer were selling from £690 to £750 in most instances.

Heifers weighing 300kg to 350kg sold from £625 to £770, or 189p to 240p/kg depending on quality. Lighter heifers sold from £460 to £680/head.

Heavier store cattle over 400kg sold from £780 to £835/head.

Calves

In the calf ring, bull calves sold to a top price of £455 for an Angus animal with Limousin calves making as far as £435/head.

Simmental calves sold to £410, with Charolais calves selling to £355. Friesian bull calves sold from £50 to £145/head.

Heifer calves sold to a top price of £490 for a Belgian Blue animal.

Limousin heifer calves sold to £380, with Simmental calves making £400. Hereford calves sold to £340.

In the dairy ring, an entry of 58 cattle sold to a top price of £2,300.

Freshly calved heifers sold from £1,500 to £1,900, with older cows selling from £1,000 to £1,300 depending on age.