There was a very large sale of cattle in Mountbellew Mart on Friday, according to the Mart Manager Marianne Higgins.
Higgins said that store steers and heifers meet with a better trade, due to farmer activity around the ring. Store steers traded from €2.56-2.61/kg, while their counterpart heifers sold from €2.35-2.77/kg.
The weanling trade remained similar to last week, with weanling heifers trading from €2.70-2.96/kg, while weanling bulls sold from €2.82-3.07/kg.
There was 1,050 cattle on offer in Balla Mart on Saturday, according to the Mart Manager Michael Murphy.
Murphy said there was a better all round trade, especially for the quality lots, which had improved on last week.
Store steers made €600-1,000 over or €2.05-3.17/kg, while forward steers sold from €1.59-3.05/kg.
In the heifer ring, there were 340 heifers on offer, with some improvement seen in the trade for all lots. Store heifers made €1.72-3.33/kg and the forward heifers sold to a top price of €1,510. These lots generally made €1.86-2.83/kg. There was also 171 cows on offer in the Galway venue on Saturday, a 10 year old Limousin cow weighing 880kg hit the top price of €1,680, while the other dry cows made €1.30-2.33/kg.
The cattle trade continued to remain steady but good in Macroom Mart on Saturday, according to the Mart’s Tim McSweeney.
McSweeney said store buyers and seven-month feeders are driving the trade, resulting in plenty of interest at the ringside.
He said that unlike other venues, store buyers purchased cattle over the last couple of weeks, despite the lack of grass on farms.
Early maturing Hereford and Angus steers sold from €235-680 over or €2.05-2.20/kg, while the continental lots made €250-755 over or
Heifers in the Co. Cork venue made €245-740 over or €2.20-3.17/kg, while dry cows sold from €85 under to €545 over.
Balla Mart
Macroom Mart