Swatragh Mart: Good prices for cattle despite the weather

More quality stock is required to meet the demand.

Bullocks: Swatragh producer; Charolais; 408kg at £950 = 2.33p, Swatragh producer; Limousin; 420kg at £980 = 2.33p, Magherafelt producer; Simmental; 350kg at £450 = 1.29p, Magherafelt producer; Simmental; 410kg at £540 = 1.32p.

Sheep: A smaller entry of 400 quality sheep were presented at the weekly sheep sale at Swatragh on Saturday 9th December 2017 due to poor weather conditions, witnessing a sharp trade and some great prices.

A small show of fat ewes were highly sought after with a top price of £107.00 being paid for two ewes.

Almost 330 lambs were presented which received a steady trade and some great prices, with several lots passing £85 and a top price of £90 being paid for three lambs at 24.6kg.

More fat lambs are required to meet demand.

Sample prices:

Heavyweight lambs:

Swatragh producer; 3 lambs 24.6kg at £90.00 = 3.66p; Bushmills producer; 5 lambs 25.6kg at £90.00 = 3.52p; Limavady producer; 25 lambs 26.8kg at £90.00 = 3.36p; Maghera producer; 10 lambs 24kg at £89.80 = 3.74p; Desertmartin producer; 5 lambs 23kg at £86.00 = 3.74p; Kilrea producer; 9 lambs 22.8kg at £84.80 = 3.73p; Bushmills producer; 3 lambs 23.3kg at £84.50 = 3.63p.

Middleweight lambs:

Swatragh producer; 7 lambs 22kg at £83.00 = 3.77p; Desertmartin producer; 4 lambs 22.8kg at £83.00 = 3.65p; Bushmills producer; 2 lambs 21kg at £82.50 = 3.93p; Eglinton producer; 36 lambs 23kg at £82.00 = 3.57p; Coleraine producer; 2 lambs 21kg at £80.00 = 3.81p.

Store lambs:

Coleraine producer; 3 lambs 20kg at £69 = 3.45p; Swatragh producer; 10 lambs 19.8kg at £70.00 = 3.54p; Garvagh producer; 16 lambs 17.8kg at £66.00 = 3.72p; Garvagh producer; 15 lambs 15.8kg at £55.00 = 3.48p.

Sample ewes prices:

Ballymoney producer; 2 ewes at £107; 4 ewes at £100; Portglenone producer; 3 ewes at £80.