Top quality Continental bullocks and heifers on offer at Markethill Mart

Highlight of the day was the trade for top quality Continental bullocks and heifers.

Bullocks

The 290 bullocks included several pens of top quality Charolais and Limousin steers which returned an exceptionally strong demand.

Forward feeding bullocks sold to £545 for 510k at £2780 for a Magheralin producer.

The same owner received £539 for 534k at £2880 and £527 for 528k at £2780.

This farmer’s load average for 15 bullocks was 561k and £2765 £493 per 100 kilos. Main demand for good quality forward bullocks from £400 to £495 per 100 kilos.

A Kilcoo farmer sold six forward bullocks to average 513k at £2326 £453 per 100 kilos.

Heavy bullocks sold to £462 for 630k at £2920 from a Magheralin farmer followed by £424 for 660k at £2800 from a Hilltown producer and a Dromore producer received £412 for 610k at £2510.

Main demand for good quality heavy bullocks from £370 to £409 per 100 kilos.

Middleweight bullocks sold up to £532 for 474k at £2520 from a Lurgan farmer followed by £531 for 420k at £2230 from a Belleek producer.

This producer sold four Charolais cross bullocks to average 400k at £1945 per head £485 per 100 kilos.

A Kilcoo farmer received £517 for 416k at £2150.

Main demand for good quality grazing bullocks from £420 to £502 per 100 kilos.

A small entry of Friesian bullocks sold to £348 for 546k at £1900.

Main demand from £310 to £338 per 100 kilos.

Heavy bullocks

Magheralin farmer 632k £2920 £462.00; Hilltown farmer 660k £2800 3424.00; Dromore farmer 610k £2510 £412.00; Hilltown farmer 606k £2480 £409.00; Newtownhamilton farmer 604k £2430 £402.00; Newtownhamilton farmer 614k £2430 £396.00; Ballinderry farmer 618k £2440 £395.00; Hilltown farmer 624k £2460 £394.00 and Crossmaglen farmer 736k £2880 £391.

Forward bullocks

Magheralin farmer 510k £2780 3545.00; Magheralin farmer 534k £2880 £539.00; Magheralin farmer 528k £2780 £527.00; Magheralin farmer 560k £2940 £525.00; Magheralin farmer 550k £2860 £520.00; Magheralin farmer 580k £2960 £510.00; Magheralin farmer 576k £2900 £503.00; Magheralin farmer 590k £2920 £495.00; Magheralin farmer 574k £2790 £486.00 and Armagh farmer 586k £2800 £478.

Middleweight bullocks

Magheralin farmer 474k £2520 £532.00; Belleek farmer 420k £2230 £531.00; Kilcoo farmer 416k £2150 £517.00; Belleek farmer 384k £1930 £502.00; Keady farmer 436k £2160 £495.00; Kilcoo farmer 498k £2400 £483.00; Armagh farmer 446k £2140 £480.00; Armagh farmer 482k £2240 £465.00; Armagh farmer 438k £2030 £464.00 and Banbridge farmer 430k £1990 £462.

Friesian bullocks

Keady farmer 546k £1900 £348.00; Armagh farmer 600k £2030 £338.00; Armagh farmer 600k £2000 £333.00; Castlewellan farmer 572k £1900 £332.00 and Castlewellan farmer 586k £1940 £331.

Heifers

The 270 heifers maintained an excellent trade with heavy heifers selling to £433 for 674k at £2920 from a Newtownhamilton producer.

The same owner received £429 for 690k at £2960 and a Portadown farmer received £420 for 710k at £2980.

A Crossmaglen farmer received £412 for 728k at £3000.

Several heifers crossed the £3000 barrier.

Main demand for good quality heavy heifers from £380 to £405 per 100 kilos.

Forward heifers sold from £400 to £478 for 502k at £2400 from a Blackwatertown farmer.

The same owner received £430 for 530k at £2280.

Grazing heifers to £479 for 420k at £2010 for a Crossmaglen farmer followed by £465 for 422k at £1960 from a Keady farmer.

All good quality middleweights sold steadily from £420 to £460 per 100 kilos.

Heavy heifers

Newtownhamilton farmer 674k £2920 £433.00; Newtownhamilton farmer 690k £2960 £429.00; Portadown farmer 710k £2980 £420.00; Crossmaglen farmer 728k £3000 £412.00; Dungannon farmer 650k £2630 £405.00; Crossmaglen farmer 698k £2820 £404.00; Silverbridge farmer 650k £2620 £403.00; Crossmaglen farmer 752k £3030 £403.00; Ballyward farmer 632k £2540 £402.00 and Newtownhamilton farmer 722k £2900 £402.

Forward heifers

Blackwatertown farmer 502k £2400 £478.00; Blackwatertown farmer 530k £2280 £430.00; Dungannon farmer 514k £2200 £428.00; Keady farmer 518k £2210 £427.00; Keady farmer 510k £2150 £422.00; Dungannon farmer 520k £2180 £419.00; Dungannon farmer 528k £2190 £415.00 and Crossmaglen farmer 552k £2280 £413.

Middleweight heifers

Crossmaglen farmer 420k £2010 £479.00; Keady farmer 422k £1960 £465.00; Cullyhanna farmer 424k £1950 £460.00; Keady farmer 466k £2140 £459.00; Newtownhamilton farmer 488k £2240 £459.00; Keady farmer 460k £2100 £457.00; Killeavy farmer 412k £1870 £454.00; Killeavy farmer 402k £1800 £448.00 and Augher farmer 478k £2140 £448.

Weanlings

The 220 weanlings sold in a steady demand.

Good quality light males sold from £500 to £614 for 228k at £1400 from a Silverbridge farmer.

The same owner received £587 for 242k at £1420.

Stronger males sold to £513 for 482k at £2470 from a Markethill farmer.

All good quality lots from £410 to £508 per 100 kilos.

Light heifers sold to £647 for 272k at £1760 from a Silverbridge producer.

The same owner received £602 for 256k at £1540. Main demand from £450 to £570 per 100 kilos.

Heavier heifers to £463 for 410k at £1900 for a Markethill producer followed by £463 for 432k at £2000 followed by £416 for 406k at £2690 from a Killeavy farmer.

Light male weanlings

Silverbridge farmer 228k £1400 £614.00; Silverbridge farmer 242k £1420 £587.00; Newtownhamilton farmer 208k £1220 £587.00; Lisburn farmer 288k £1560 £542.00; Portadown farmer 346k £1910 £552.00; Tandragee farmer 358k £1940 £542.00; Tynan farmer 386k £2040 £529.00 and Newtownhamilton farmer 238k £1250 £525.

Strong male weanlings

Markethill farmer 482k £2470 £513.00; Markethill farmer 478k £2430 £508.00; Markethill farmer 460k £2280 £496.00; Tynan farmer 464k £2240 £483.00; Markethill farmer 410k £1900 £463.00; Tandragee farmer 450k £2060 £458.00; Markethill farmer 432k £1910 £442.00 and Portadown farmer 462k £2030 £439.

Light heifer weanlings

Silverbridge farmer 272k £1760 £647.00; Silverbridge farmer 256k £1540 £602.00; Keady farmer 314k £1800 £573.00; Hillsborough farmer 338k £1880 £556.00; Markethill farmer 392k £2180 £556.00; Cullyhanna farmer 244k £1340 £549.00; Tynan farmer 318k £1730 £544.00; Newry farmer 246k £1270 £516.00; Markethill farmer 368k £1890 £514.00 and Markethill farmer 288k £1480 £514.

Strong heifer weanlings

Markethill farmer 410k £1900 £463.00; Markethill farmer 432k £2000 £463.00; Killeavy farmer 406k £1690 £416.00; Kilkeel farmer 408k £1670 £409.00; Markethill farmer 448k £1780 £397.00 and Kilkeel farmer 428k £1680 £393.

In the suckler ring outfits sold to £3600 for a Simmental cow and heifer calf from a Benburb farmer followed by £3180 for a Limousin heifer and heifer calf from a Crumlin farmer.

The same owner received £2980 and £2920 for similar outfits.

In calf heifers sold to £3760 each.