Camera at the Mart attended the weekly cattle sale in Ballymena Mart on Friday last, where there was another large entry of livestock forwarded across all sale rings.

Buyers packed all three rings looking for good-quality weanlings, light stores, freshly calved dairy cows and calves.

This Angus bull calf born 6 January sold for £230.

Commenting on the sale, mart manager Sam McNabney said prices for cattle remain firm, with no sign of static beef prices affecting the live trade.

He added that there has been a great trade for quality stock, especially suckler cows with calves at foot, as well as in-calf animals coming close to calving.

This Angus bull calf born 31 December sold for £435.

In the calf ring, farmers were competing directly against buying agents for top-class beef-sired calves born in late December and January.

Bidding was fierce, leading to a flying trade, with exceptionally strong prices relative to the weanling ring.

Angus bull calves were highly sought after, with good-quality calves born in late December selling above £400, with a 31 December-born animal making £435.

Other stand-out lots saw similar-aged bull calves making £370 to £390.

This Charolais bull calf born 16 January sold for £395.

Plainer lots

Plainer-quality calves made £180 to £240 for calves four to six months old, with older lots making around the £200 mark.

Angus heifers were also an easy sell, with good-quality calves making £300 to £340. Plainer calves were a slower trade, selling back to £180.

This Angus heifer calf born 27 November sold for £300.

Belgian Blue calves were also a flying trade with bulls making upwards on £400. Heifer calves typically made £320 to £380 at the top end of the market for calves on milk.

A limited entry of Charolais calves sold to £395 for a super bull just over two weeks of age.

Hereford calves were a more varied trade and prices were heavily reflective of the quality of calf on offer.

This Belgian Blue heifer calf born 16 November sold for £295.

Strong calves

Strong bull calves around four to five weeks old typically sold best, with prices of £225 to £260, while plainer lots made £160 to £190 and heifer calves also making similar money.

Limousin bull calves sold upwards on £395 for stronger lots, with one-month-old heifer calves making £300 to £360. Plainer sorts sold for £60 to £80 less.