Cattle continue to sell to a positive trade at Markethill

Export agents and buyers from throughout Northern Ireland were in attendance.

HEIFERS: The 221 store heifers continued to sell in a very firm trade for all classes of heifers. Good quality middleweight heifers to £211 for 480k at £1010 for a Newtownhamilton farmer. Main demand from £180 to £207 per 100 kilos. Forward heifers to £1085 for 590k (184) from a Mullabawn farmer. Main demand from £178 to £193 for 504k at £975. Suitable lightweight heifers from £190 to £224 for 248k at £780 for a Rathfriland farmer. Second quality heifers sold in a very good demand from £160 to £175 per 100 kilos.

Forward heifers: Newtownhamilton farmer 504k £975 £193.00; Mullabawn farmer 528k £1000 £189.00; Mullabawn farmer 502k £940 £187.00; Armagh farmer 574k £1070 £186.00; Armagh farmer 532k £980 £184.00; Newry farmer 530k £975 £184.00; Mullabawn farmer 590k £1085 £184.00; Armagh farmer 512k £940 £184.00; Newtownhamilton farmer 516k £945 £183.00.

Middleweight heifers: Newtownhamilton farmer 480k £1010 £211.00; Portadown farmer 482k £1000 £207.00; Newry farmer 466k £910 £195.00; Mullabawn farmer 472k £905 £192.00; Newtownhamilton farmer 428k £820 £192.00; Newtownhamilton farmer 410k £785 £192.00; Newry farmer 412k £780 £189.00; Newtownhamilton farmer 464k £870 £188.00.

Lightweight heifers: Newry farmer 348k £780 £224.00; Dungannon farmer 364k £800 £220.00; Lurgan farmer 362k £760 £210.00; Keady farmer 322k £670 £208.00; Glenanne farmer 366k £730 £199.00; Newtownbutler farmer 370k £730 £197.00; Newtownbutler farmer 326k £640 £196.00; Keady farmer 358k £700 £196.00.

BULLOCKS: The 202 store bullocks continued to sell in a very good trade for all lots. Forward bullocks from £175 to £190 for 556k at £1055 for a Tandragee farmer followed by £188 for 594k at £1115 from a Newtownhamilton producer. Top price £1135 for 622k (182). Good quality middleweights to £123 for 402k at £855. Main demand from £185 to £204 per 100 kilos. Friesian bullocks sold from £127 to £142 for 608k at £865.

Forward bullocks: Tandragee farmer 556k £1055 £190.00; Newtownhamilton farmer 594k £1115 £188.00; Portadown farmer 566k £1050 £186.00; Armagh farmer 512k £945 £185.00; Armagh farmer 526k £960 £182.00; Loughgilly farmer 622k £1135 £182.00; Portadown farmer 598k £1090 £182.00; Keady farmer 586k £1065 £182.00; Keady farmer 570k £1035 £182.00; Tandragee farmer 592k £1070 £181.00.

Forward Friesian bullocks: Keady farmer 608k £865 £142.00; Keady farmer 628k £840 £134.00; Keady farmer 594k £780 £131.00; Caledon farmer 524k £670 £128.00; Keady farmer 554k £705 £127.00.

Middleweight bullocks: Loughbrickland farmer 420k £855 £213.00; Newry farmer 482k £985 £204.00; Keady farmer 450k £885 £197.00; Newry farmer 478k £940 £196.00; Armagh farmer 448k £880 £196.00; Moy farmer 426k £835 £196.00; Newtownhamilton farmer 480k £930 £194.00.

WEANLINGS: The 205 weanlings sold in an excellent trade particularly the beltex quality lots. Good quality lightweight heifers sold from £210 to £254 for 232k at £590. Middleweights to £246 for 334k at £820. Light male weanlings to £265 for 298k at £790. Stronger lots to £233 for 360k at £840. Main demand from £200 to £230 per 100 kilos.

Middleweight male weanlings: Armagh farmer 306k £780 £255.00; Armagh farmer 324k £795 £245.00; Jerrettspass farmer 360k £840 £233.00; Armagh farmer 336k £780 £232.00; Keady farmer 302k £700 £232.00; Armagh farmer 302k £690 £228.00; Newry farmer 306k £675 £221.00.

Lightweight male weanlings: Armagh farmer 298k £790 £265.00; Newry farmer 252k £660 £262.00; Armagh farmer 248k £640 £258.00; Armagh farmer 300k £770 £257.00; Armagh farmer 258k £650 £252.00; Mowhan farmer 236k £580 £246.00; Middletown farmer 286k £700 £245.00; Armagh farmer 252k £580 £230.00.

Middleweight heifer weanlings: Armagh farmer 334k £820 £246.00; Cullyhanna farmer 308k £725 £235.00; Middletown farmer 312k £720 £231.00; Middletown farmer 324k £700 £216.00; Middletown farmer 364k £735 £202.00; Newtownhamilton farmer 324k £635 £196.00; Middletown farmer 364k £700 £192.00.

Lightweight heifer weanlings: Keady farmer 232k £590 £254.00; Mowhan farmer 178k £435 £244.00; Mowhan farmer 184k £430 £234.00; Poyntzpass farmer 230k £530 £230.00; Mowhan farmer 186k £425 £228.00; Keady farmer 238k £540 £227.00; Poyntzpass farmer 268k £595 £222.00; Newry farmer 246k £545 £222.00.

In the suckler ring top price of £1650 was paid for a Lim cow and bull calf. Others sold at £1200, £1200 and £1150.

A large entry of 240 cull cows at Markethill on Tuesday 12th April, sold in a very good trade for all classes. Beef bred cows to £150 for 786k at £1180. Main demand from £120 to £142 per 100 kilos. Well fleshed Friesian cows were in exceptionally good demand with several lots from £850 to £990 each paid for 834k (119). Main demand from £105 to £124 for 814k at £975. Second quality friesians from £85 to £95 per 100 kilos and the poorest types from £55 to £75 per 100 kilos. Clean cattle sold from £150 to £173 for 580k at £1000. Top price £1040 for 680k Aged bulls from £110 to £124 for 940k at £1165.

Cull cows: Newtownhamilton farmer 786k £1180 £150.00; Newry farmer 670k £955 £143.00; Aghalee farmer 506k £700 £139.00; Newry farmer 630k £870 £138.00; Armagh farmer 818k £1060 £130.00; Keady faremr 616k £790 £128.00; Collone farmer 804k £1025 £128.00; Crossmaglen farmer 596k £750 £126.00; Keady faremr 676k £850 £126.00.

Cull clean cattle: Newry farmer 580k £1000 £173.00; Newry farmer 584k £1000 £171.00; Richhill farmer 580k £940 £162.00; Richhill farmer 390k £655 £168.00; Newry farmer 392k £620 £158.00; Richhill farmer 476k £740 £156.00.

Friesian cull cows: Armagh farmer 670k £830 £124.00; Banbridge farmer 782k £940 £120.00; Newry farmer 726k £870 £120.00; Armagh farmer 814k £975 £120.00; Katesbridge farmer 834k £990 £119.00; Armagh farmer 796k £940 £118.00; Newry farmer 704k £795 £113.00; Katesbridge farmer 710k £800 £113.00; Caledon farmer 742k £830 £112.00.

CALVES: The 295 lots in the calf ring sold in an exceptionally strong demand. Top quality bull calves to £435 for a two week old Char. All top quality bulls from £290 to £410 each. The top 10 bull calves averaged £367 each. Good quality heifer calves to £440 for a four week old Hereford. All suitable heifers from £230 to £370 each. The top 10 heifer calves averaged £312 each. Young Friesian bulls from £40 to £105 each with stronger friesians from £150 to £240 each. Reared calves to £279 for 226k Lim heifer at £630.

Bull calves: Ch £435; Ch £410; Her £390; Lim £385; AA £360; Her £355; Lim £335; Ch£335; Her £330.

Heifer calves: Her £330; Lim £370; Lim £310; Her £310; Lim £300; Ch £300; Lim £295; Lim £280; Her £270; Lim £250.