Camera at the Mart attended the weekly cattle sale at Thainstone Mart, Aberdeenshire on Friday last with a slightly smaller show of 956 animals went under the hammer.

Prices were firmer than the previous week with good quality yearling stores, and Charolais types in particular, an excellent trade.

This Charolais steer, aged 11 months and weighing 514kg, sold for £1,140.

Commenting on the sale, ANM’s head auctioneer John Angus said “This sale saw a good show of cattle, with one of the biggest entries of Charolais animals we have had this season.”

These Charolais steers, aged 10 months and weighing 474kg, sold for £1,180.

He added, “Prices are up slightly on the year with Friday’s sale averaging £2.34/kg for steers and £2.24/ kg for heifers. The biggest change is the price lift on the year for longer-keep cattle.

Trade is above expectation at present, which is surprising, considering the price of the prime cattle.

These Limousin heifers, aged 11 months and 386kg, sold for £850.

There is a big demand for stores at present, which could be down to cheaper fodder and bedding with straw averaging just over £5/bale out of the shed.”

An entry of 494 bullocks sold to an average of 232.9p/kg, up from 224.8p/kg during the previous week, with Charolais animals driving buying demand.

These Limousin steers, aged 10 months and weighing 372kg, sold for £910.

Price per kilo topped out at 288.2p/kg for a pair of 340kg Charolais animals. Bullocks weighing 300kg to 350kg sold from £770 to £910. Cattle weighing 350kg to 400kg sold from £950 to £1,030 at the top end of the market.

These Limousin heifers, aged nine months and weighing 364kg, sold for £850.

Good quality store bullocks from 400kg to 450kg sold from £1,055 to £1,090 for Charolais types with heavier lots weighing 450kg to 500kg making £1,100 to £1,225 at the top of the trade.

This Charolais steer, aged 10 months and weighing 354kg, sold for £820.

Heavy bullocks peaked at £1,345 for a pair of Limousin animals weighing 672kg, with other prime animals making £1,270 to £1,315 or 190p to 210p/kg.

A slightly smaller show of 450 heifers were a super trade with prices averaging 223p/kg, up from 215.7p/kg paid during the previous week.

This Limousin heifer, aged 11 months and weighing 396kg, sold for £840.

Price per kilo peaked at 263.2p/kg for a 494kg Simmental animal which made £1,300. Heifers weighing 350kg to 450kg sold from £860 to £930, with animals weighing 400kg to 450kg making £1,010 to £1,090 for top quality Charolais lots.

These Charolais steers, aged 11 months and weighing 412kg, sold for £1,100.

Heifers over 450kg sold from £1,085 rising to £1,320 for a pair of Simmental animals weighing 542kg.

These Charolais steers, aged 12 months and weighing 404kg, sold for £1,090.

This Charolais steer, aged 10 months and weighing 428kg, sold for £1,110.

These Charolais steers, aged 10 months and weighing 410kg, sold for £870.