A solid entry of 326 beef cattle were forwarded for sale at Ballymena Livestock Market on Thursday.
Trade remained steady throughout, with ample bidders both ringside and online.
Beef cull cows sold well, with continental types weighing around 700kg often realising prices over 340p/kg. Top price per kg in the cull cow ring was for a six-year-old Blonde weighing 730kg which sold for £2,628 (360p/kg). Other leading prices saw a 750kg Limousin selling for £2,580 (344p/kg) and a 640kg Belgian Blue cow which realised £2,201 (344p/kg).
Heavier cull cows made slightly lower prices per kg. An 840kg Charolais sold to £2,804 (324p/kg), whilst an 810kg Limousin made £2,656 (328p/kg).
Friesian cows topped 246p/kg for a 700kg cow at £1,722, with others selling from 208p/kg to 246p/kg.
Heifers
The top prices paid for beef heifers generally ranged from 330p/kg to 374p/kg. Leading the trade was the 374p/kg paid for an 810kg Limousin at £3,029. In general, continental heifers weighing around 700kg were largely sought after, often reaching 350p/kg and above.
Other notable heifer prices included a 790kg Charolais at £2,859 (362p/kg) and a 770kg Limousin, which was knocked down for £2,695 (350p/kg).
A number of beef bullocks weighing over 700kg sold for prices of 360p/kg and above. Top price per kg was a 740kg Belgian Blue which made £2,871 (388p/kg).
The top price per head for a beef bullock was paid for an 880kg Limousin which realised £3,168 (360p/kg), with other notable prices including a 790kg Limousin at £3,033 (383p/kg) and an 890kg Simmental which sold for £2,937 (330p/kg).
Friesian bulls sold to a top of 300p/kg for a 600kg bull at £1,800. Prices ranged from 240p/kg to 300p/kg.
