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Camera at the mart attended the weekly cattle sale at Clogher Mart on Saturday, where just over 800 cattle went under the hammer.
Cattle numbers have tailed off in recent weeks, in line with seasonal trends. Despite a slower beef trade, buying demand for strong stores remains firm. Prices are also holding for good-quality stores at lighter weights. However, the cow trade is facing added pressure.
Commenting on the sale, mart manager Harrison Boyd said that prices for cull cows are well down compared with early autumn and are running well behind the prices on offer in spring.
He added that buying demand for store cattle is holding up well, with good-quality short-keep animals in greatest demand.
Cull cows sold to £1,574 for an 820kg Belgian Blue animal, which made 192p/kg. The main trade saw slaughter-fit cows selling from 140p to 170p/kg for good-quality continental types and cow heifers.
Friesian types sold to 112p/kg for a 720kg animal, with thinner types selling from 46p to 96p/kg depending on age and quality.
In the bullock ring, there was a smaller entry on offer and this helped to harden prices. The trade topped at £1,385 for a 670kg Charolais animal, with other cattle at similar weights and carrying flesh selling from £1,270 to £1,355.
Mid-weight bullocks sold from £900 to £1,035 for good-quality continental types, although Angus and Hereford animals also sold to similar prices for cattle weighing 450kg to 500kg.
Heifers were limited and prices reached a peak of £1,230 for a 610kg Limousin, with a 640kg Simmental making £1,185.
Forward heifers generally sold from £820 to £1,145. Lighter heifers sold from £845 to £1,000 for animals weighing 400kg to 500kg.
Weanlings were met with steady demand and bull calves sold to £1,000 for a 430kg Shorthorn-bred animal, with prices of 227p to 262p/kg on offer for good-quality lots. Weanling heifers sold to £840.
Suckler outfits sold to £1,205 for a six-year-old cow and bull calf pair, with other outfits selling from £920 to £1,145.
In-calf heifers were a flying trade, selling to £1,460, with other lots making £980 to £1,445.
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