A total of 95 store and over-30-month cattle went under the hammer at the United Auctions sale at Huntly in Aberdeenshire last Thursday 5 December.

At the sale, 30 bullocks sold to an average of 192.9p/kg, with a top of 216p/kg paid for a 310kg Shorthorn cross, which made £670. The highest gross price was the £1,190 paid for a Simmental cross.

Two Simmental heifers 19 and 16 months weighing 555kg sold for £1,020.

The 29 heifers sold averaged 195.7p/kg, with the top of 209.8p/kg paid for a British Blue cross. The highest gross price was the £1,020 paid for a Simmental cross.

The top-priced cull cow was an Aberdeen Angus-cross which made £1,140. In total, 36 sold to an average of 106.6p/kg.

Simmental heifer 19 months-old weighing 455kg sold for £875.

Regional managing director at United Auctions Donald Young said prices for store cattle in Scotland have been going up in recent weeks, and have now moved ahead of prices paid at the same time last year.

Charolais steer 21 months weighing 555kg sold for £1,020.

“Earlier in the week we had 800 cattle sold in Oban, where bullocks averaged £667 which was up £59 on the same sale last year and heifers sold for £682 which was up £90 on the year.

Two Simmental steers both 19 months old weighing 525kg sold for £1,090.

This is a good comparison as the cattle types at the Oban are the same every year,” he said.

According to Donald, buying activity has picked up as finishers start to move more cattle to slaughter, creating space in sheds. There is also plenty of silage and straw on farms this year.

Two Simmental steers 20 and 18 months weighing 665kg sold for £1,175.

He said the cull cow trade has remained relatively steady, with demand reasonably good for well-fleshed types, especially in the run up to Christmas.

Two Simmental steers 19 and 17 months weighing 600kg sold for £1,110.

“The beef price is still significantly below what it was last year, and up until last week, the store trade was also down, so incomes on farms are less than in previous years. But it has meant that people with breeding herds have managed to buy their replacements cheaper this year,” said Donald.

Simmental steer 19 months 660kg sold for £1,190.

Belgian Blue heifer 13 months 410kg sold for £860.

Belgian Blue heifer 15 months 480kg sold for £955.

Belgian Blue heifer 13 months 395kg sold for £770.

Belgian Blue heifer 13 months 410kg sold for £860.

Simmental steer 15 months 490kg sold for £940.

Simmental steer 15 months 530kg sold for £1,055.

Two Simmental steers 15 months weighing 505kg sold for £1,000.