A smaller entry of store cattle at Ballymena Livestock Mart on Tuesday of this week resulted in a sharper trade for steers and heifers.

At the top end of the trade, prices for heavy bullocks reached a peak of £615 over for a 610kg Charolais animal (£1,225). In the heifer ring, prices reached a peak of £1,145 for a 560kg Simmental animal.

Heavy bullocks over 600kg sold from a general price range of £1.90/kg to £2.05/kg for top-quality U grade animals. Plainer cattle were limited in numbers, but sold back to £1.80/kg.

Good-quality feeding stores from 500kg to 600kg sold for £1.80/kg to £1.98/kg, with some choice lots making over the £2/kg mark.

Prices for fleshed heifers were running from £1.95/kg to £2.05/kg for animals suited to a short keep. Light stores were making £1.60/kg to £1.85/kg, depending on quality.

In the fat cattle ring on Friday, finished bullocks were selling from £1.90/kg for plainer cattle to £2.28/kg for U grade continentals.

Finished heifers were selling from £1.80/kg to £2.10/kg.

Fat cows were selling from £1.36/kg for dairy-bred cows to £1.84/kg for good beef animals.