Firm trade for all stock at Markethill

HEIFERS

The 130 store heifers sold readily with good quality forward heifers to £204 for 506k at £1030 for a Dromara farmer. Main demand from £175 to £192 per 100 kilos. Suitable middleweights from £180 to £215 for 380k at £815. Second quality heifers sold in a strong demand from £160 to £175 per 100 kilos.

Forward heifers: Dromara farmer 506k £1030 £104.00; Newry farmer 570k £1095 £192.00; Dromore farmer 578k £1055 £183.00; Dromore farmer 570k £1040 £182.00; Keady farmer 514k £935 £182.00; Dromore farmer 582k £1055 £181.00; Armagh farmer 538k £975 £181.00; Dromore farmer 606k £1075 £177.00;

Middleweight heifers: Tandragee farmer 380k £815 £215.00; Dromara farmer 398k £800 £201.00; Newry farmer 482k £965 £200.00; Keady farmer 364k £730 £211.00; Dromore farmer 476k £950 £199.00; Dromara farmer 396k £780 £197.00; Lurgan farmer 356k £700 £197.00; Tandragee farmer 382k £750 £196.00; Keady farmer 484k £930 192.00; Dromara farmer 402k £770 £191.00;

BULLOCKS

The 180 bullocks attracted very strong prices with good quality forward steers from £175 to £198 for 530k at £1050. Top price £1120 for 600k (187). Good quality middleweights to £221 for 384k at £850 followed by £209 for 430k at £900. Main demand from £185 to £205 per 100 kilos. Good quality Friesian bullocks sold from £125 to £138 for 600k at £830.

Forward bullocks: Tandragee farmer 530k £1050 £198.00; Belleks farmer 506k £1000 £198.00; Tandragee farmer 520k £1020 £196.00; Tandragee farmer 526k £1010 £192.00; Tandragee farmer 512k £980 £191.00; Moy farmer 600k £1120 £187.00; Tandragee farmer 580k £1080 £186.00; Tandragee farmer 604k £1115 £185.00; Tynan farmer 552k £1000 £181.00;

Forward Friesian bullocks: Tandragee farmer 600k £830 £138.00; Tandragee farmer 532k £725 £136.00; Caledon farmer 562k £760 £135.00; Tandragee farmer 524k £705 £134.00; Tandragee farmer 560k £740 £132.00; Tandragee farmer 564k £740 £131.00.

Middleweight bullocks: Middletown farmer 384k £850 £221.00; Newry farmer 332k £730 £220.00; Mayobridge farmer 378k £780 £206.00; Dungannon farmer 430k £900 £209.00; Belleeks farmer 458k £940 £205.00; Banbridge farmer 430k £880 £205.00; Moy farmer 428k £870 £203.00.

WEANLINGS

The 170 weanlings returned an excellent demand especially the good quality lots. The better quality males sold from £200 to £261 for 326k at £850. Suitable heifer weanlings from £190 to £245 for 306k at £750.

Male weanlings: Armagh farmer 326k £850 £261.00; Tassagh farmer 310k £730 £235.00; Armagh farmer 258k £595 £231.00; Collone farmer 292k £665 £228.00; Tassagh farmer 298k £675 £227.00; Kilkeel farmer 274k £620 £226.00; Banbridge farmer 298k £670 £225.00; Tassagh farmer 328k £740 £226.00; Newtownhamilton farmer 320k £705 £220.00.

Heifer weanlings: Markethill farmer 292k £700 £240.00; Armagh farmer 272k £640 £235.00; Armagh farmer 306k £750 £245.00; Tassagh farmer 312k £720 £230.00; Silverbridge farmer 366k £825 £225.00; Hillsborough farmer 320k £720 £225.00; Armagh farmer 296k £660 £223.00; Keady farmer 202k £450 £223.00; Belleek farmer 270k £600 £222.00.

Suckler outfits sold at £1300, £1200 and £1190. In-calf heifers sold at £1300, £1110, and 1060. Several more from £900 to £1050 each.

A very large entry of 460 cattle at Markethill on Tuesday 29th March (Easter Tuesday) at Marekthill returned a very good trade in all rings.

Dairy stock sold to £1310 for a calved heifer from a Stewartstown farmer. A Loughgall producer received £1260 for a calved heifer. A Newtownhamilton farmer sold two in-calf cows at £1000 and £950 each.

CULL COWS

The 110 cull cows returned an improved trade especially Friesian cows and cows for grazing. Beef-bred cows sold to £148 for 732k at £1085. Main demand from £120 to £137 per 100 kilos. Fleshed Friesian cows from £100 to £111 for 774k at £860 from a Newcastle farmer. Second quality friesians from £85 to £95 per 100 kilos with the poorest types from £55 to £75 per 100 kilos.

Cull cows: Newtownhamilton farmer 732k £1085 £148.00;Cullyhanna farmer 684k £935 £137.00; Banbridge farmer 632k £860 £136.00; Portadown farmer 566k £755 £133.00; Keady farmer 548k £725 £132.00; Portadown farmer 582k £760 £131.00; Tassagh farmer 838k £1045 £125.00; Markethill farmer 722k £900 £125.00; Newry farmer 762k £935 £123.00; Armagh farmer 780k £945 £121.00.

Friesian cull cows: Newcastle farmer 774k £860 £111.00; Loughgilly farmer 622k £685 £110.00; Newcastle farmer 766k £830 £108.00; Banbridge farmer 840k £910 £108.00; Banbridge farmer 712k £760 £107.00; Dungannon farmer 596k £635 £107.00; Bessbrook farmer 732k £760 £104.00; Portadown farmer 706k £730 £103.00; Crossmaglen farmer 612k £625 £102.00; Dungannon farmer 718k £730 £102.00.

CALVES

The 200 dropped calves continued to sell in a very strong demand. Good quality bull calves to £380 for a Sim. Main demand from £250 to £340. Heifer calves sold to £335 for a four week old Lim with all good heifers from £220 to £310. Suitable Friesian bulls (under 6 weeks) sold from £50 to £100 each. Reared friesians from £150 to £310 each.

Bull calves: Sim £380; Lim £340; AA £335; Lim £305; Sim £305; Lim £300; Sim £300; BB £285.

Heifer calves: Lim £335; Lim £310; Lim £300; BB £280; Lim £270; Lim£270; SHB £255; Her £245; Sim £240.

The 130 reared calves included a special entry of 90 weanlings, most Lim x shorthorns from a Keady farmer which sold to a packed ringside of buyers. Light heifers to £302 for 182k at £550. Stronger heifers to £239 for 366k at £875. Main demand from £200 to £235 per 100 kilos. Light males from £200 to £245 for 202k at £495. Stronger males from £175 to £220 per 100 kilos.