farm-link - Mart Report

A terrific entry of stock turned out for the Christmas Show and Sale at the Fane Valley Mart in Newtownhamilton on Saturday.

Quality was excellent in all sections and Judge Sean Killen from Crossgar had his work cut out.

He chose as his champion a tremendous Charolais steer from the herd of Aeneas Carragher from Cullyhanna.  Weighing in at 710 kgs he sold at £1,000 paid by Linden Foods.

The reserve champion was presented by John Corkey from Tullyvallen.  This was a very impressive heifer – again a Charolais and she weighed 670 kgs, selling to £1,050 to Graham Parks for his butchers shop in Newtownhamilton.  Thanks are due to the Ulster Bank for their generous sponsorship for the competition.

Quality was good and trade strong throughout the sale with prices improved in all sections.

Heifers were reduced in numbers but sold well with the top price of £700 paid for a Limousin at 510 kgs from a Newtownhamilton farmer.  The same producer sold a Charolais at 580 kgs for £650 with other Charolais making £425  for 420 kgs (paid twice).

A good entry of clean eared weanling steers sold to £560 for a Limousin at 340 kgs with other Limousins selling at £535 for 320 kgs, £465 for 280 kgs, £372 for 230 kgs, £365 for 220 kgs and £360 kgs 200 kgs. Charolais sold to £440 for 250 kgs, £465 for 320 kgs, £452 for 290 kgs, £422 for 250 kgs and £340 for 200 kgs.

Best of the Blondes in this section made £500 for 260 kgs with £405 paid for 260 kgs and £350 for 210 kgs while Belgian Blues made to £435 for 300 kgs.

Clean eared steers sold to £682 for a Limousin at 540 kgs with other Limousins selling at £670 for 540 kgs, £640 for 460 kgs, £630 for 450 kgs, £590 for 420 kgs, £502 for 380 kgs, £488 for 330 kgs and £465 for 310 kgs.

Charolais sold to £635 for 490 kgs and £610 for 490 kgs.

In the single punched section Limousin steers sold to £900 for 720 kgs, £700 for 650 kgs, £680 for 560 kgs, £688 for 620 kgs, £680 for 610 kgs, £670 for 550 kgs, £660 for 570 kgs, £662 for 570 kgs, £652 for 560 kgs, £610 for 500 kgs, £602 for 470 kgs and £598 for 530 kgs.

Blonde steers sold to £800 for 680 kgs and £572 for 430 kgs while Belgian Blues made to £680 for 510 kgs, £610 for 540 kgs and £475 for 400 kgs.

Charolais sold at £775 for 720 kgs, £770 for 630 kgs, £740 for 690 kgs, £700 for 590 kgs, £695 for 600 kgs and £660 for 580 kgs.

Hereford steers sold at £702 for 630 kgs, £690 at 600 kgs and £662 for 580 kgs.

Steers with no claims left sold to £518 paid for a Limousin at 440 kgs with similar animals making £478 for 420 kgs, £475 for 390 kgs, £450 for 390 kgs, £395 for 320 kgs and £385 for 330 kgs.

The next sale in Newtownhamilton will take place on Saturday 18^th December and the first sale of the New Year will take place on Saturday 29^th January 2005.