Camera at the mart attended the weekly sale at Draperstown Mart, Co Derry, on Friday last. There was a packed sales ring of buyers, boosted in part by the holiday period allowing many part-time producers to attend.

Specialist finishers were extremely competitive in sourcing fat cows for intensive finishing, while a big presence of suckler farmers was looking to purchase in-calf heifers.

A special entry of 40 in-calf suckler-bred heifers from two different sellers saw prices peak at £1,700 (€1,910) for a Limousin animal from James Alexander, Randalstown, Co Antrim. The heifer is due to calve in late January and in-calf to a Limousin bull.

Several lots from the same vendor sold from £1,650 to £1,690 (€1,850 to €1,898), while heifers scanned to calve in March sold from £1,500 to £1,600 (€1,120 to €1,797).

In a separate entry, in-calf heifers scanned for February and March and served to a Limousin bull saw prices of £1,000 to £1,390 being paid (€1,120 to €1,560).

Cull cows were a sharp trade, with finishers most active for younger cow heifers carrying flesh. Prices paid ranged from £900 to £1,200 (€1,011 to €1,350), depending on quality.

Plainer cows were an easier trade, with prices of £600 to £900 (€674 to €1,011) depending on quality, age and level of flesh present.