The good weather over the past two weeks has resulted in some improvement in the cattle trade in marts around the country.Farmer activity in marts has increased, due to higher grass growth rates and this has resulted in stronger demand for store cattle. beef

Kilkenny Mart

There was a bit more life in the trade for plainer stores in Kilkenny Mart, Cillin Hill on Thursday, according to the Mart Manager George Candler.Candler said that quality steers meet with a steady demand and the plainer quality lots on offer improved on the previous week.Beef steers sold from €1.80-2.40/kg, forward stores (500-600kg) made €1.80-2.60/kg, while the lighter store cattle on offer traded from €1.70-3.11/kg.[colored_box color="green"]Sample steer prices:

Belgian Blue: 870kg - €1,700 or €1.95/kg
Charolais: 700kg - €1,685 or €2.41/kg
Hereford: 520kg - €1,165 or €2.24/kg
Friesian: 500kg - €900 or €1.80/kg
Limousin: 490kg - €1,280 or €2.61/kg
Angus: 455kg - €1,080 or €2.37/kg[/colored_box]

Candler said there was an excellent trade for heifers on Thursday. Beef heifers traded from €2.00-2.55/kg, forward stores made €2.00-2.85/kg, while store heifers sold from €2.00-3.25/kg.Cull cows also met with goo demand, Friesian culls made €1.07-2.12/kg, while the better quality continental lots sold from €1.60-2.18/kg.[colored_box color="green"]Sample heifer prices:

Hereford: 770kg - €1,710 or €2.22/kg
Simmental: 600kg - €1,470 or €2.45/kg
Charolais: 500kg - €1,220 or €2.44/kg
Limousin: 490kg - €1,250 or €2.55/kg
Angus: 390kg - €870 or €2.23/kg
Hereford: 370kg - €840 or €2.27/kg[/colored_box]

Raphoe Mart

There was a large entry of 300 cattle cattle on offer in Raphoe Mart on Thursday, according to the Mart Manager Anne Harkin.Like Kilkenny Mart, Harkin said there was a good trade for all types of stock, due to extra farm activity around the ring.She said that steers sold from €2.30-2.75/kg, with the lighter lots selling up to a top price of €3/kg and similar type store heifers sold from €2.35-2.80/kg.There was also good demand for cows suitable for further feeding, which traded from €700-1,200 each, while fat cows made €1,300-1,470.[colored_box color="green"]Raphoe sample prices:

Bulls over 600kg: €550-900 over
Beef steers: €600-825 over
Store steers: €450-855 over
Beef heifer: €550-855 over
Store heifers: €300-700 over
Dry cows: €700-1,470 each
Cows and calves: €1,270-1,900[/colored_box]

Tullow Mart

The 555 cattle on offer in Tullow Mart continued to meet a very positive trade on Friday, according to the Mart Manager Eric Driver.Driver said that the prices seen two weeks ago where fully maintained and there was a noticeable demand for beef and forward type heifers, which traded from €2.20/kg.Similar type beef and forward steers sold from €2/kg, he said, while forward Friesian steers sold up to €1,020 over.Driver also said that store bullocks sold briskly die to farmer demand and 400kg steers made €950-1,100 over.Store heifers also met with a very buoyant trade with exceptional 400kg lots making €1,070 over, while the majority sold from €480 to €650 over.Driver also said that store cows remain steady with good demand for beef cows selling up to €880 over, while feeder cows traded from €200 over for the Friesian types.

Mountbellew Mart

There was an increase in the demand for the heifers on offer in Mountbellew Mart on Friday, according to the Mart Manager Marianne Higgins.The mart manager said the increase occurred as farmers were very active around the ring. She also said that there was a very large number of stock on offer and all lots met with a flying trade.According to Higgins, steers traded from €2.19-2.92/kg, while heifers sold from €2.41-2.68/kg.Weanlings also met with good demand. Bull weanlings traded from €2.46-2.79/kg, while heifers made €2.11-2.67/kg.[colored_box color="green"]Sample steer prices:

Limousin: 450kg - €1,150 or €2.56/kg
Simmental: 560kg - €1,280 or €2.29/kg
Limousin: 420kg - €1,140 or €2.71/kg
Angus: 490kg - €1,075 or €2.19/kg
Charolais: 377kg - €1,100 or €2.92/kg[/colored_box]

Cattle marts: Grass growth sees demand for cattle increase

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