Despite continued uncertainty in the beef market, trade for store cattle has improved over the last three weeks. With heavier cattle being sold through our centre, heifers have been commanding nearly the same price or more than bullocks.

At the weekly sale of store cattle at Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ Thainstone Centre, on October 11, heifers produced an increase of £42.91 gross on the year and saw the average p per kg of 194.4p remain the same to last year.

Store bullocks were back just 9.2p per kg, or £8 gross on the year but saw the average weight of the sale up 19.79kg. On the same day, weaned calves saw heifers increase by £20.51 gross on the year, while bullocks were back £16.

Store cattle have summered well this year due to better weather and large volumes of grass throughout the summer months.

There is still plenty of producers out there looking to buy cattle and because there is plenty fodder and straw available on farms compared to this time last year, smaller store cattle should be cheaply wintered this year. The decline in the price of cereals will also be in the finishers’ favour this year with reduced rates in both straw and barley.

As we are in the midst of weaned and suckled calf sales, the firm’s first sale of spring-born calves was held at Caithness Livestock Centre, on October 14, which attracted a large ringside of buyers. Calves were easily cashed and saw trade increase by £25.30 on the year.

In the breeding cattle market, it’s encouraging to see plenty of buyers forward, with producers looking to restock in their suckler herds. The annual sale of heifers with autumn-born calves at foot held at the beginning of the month averaged £2095 which is similar to last year, while a recent dispersal sale of top-quality suckler cows and calves saw many outfits sell between the £2000 and £2500 bracket.

Later this month, more than 500 head of cattle will go under the hammer at the firm’s major sale of spring calving heifers on October 29.

John Angus is Head of Livestock at Aberdeen Northern Marts, a member of IAAS