The mart cattle trade has continued to remain positive, with demand particularly evident for well-fleshed cows in recent days.

Buyers for these lots have become increasingly active around the ring, while the top-quality store cattle continue to meet a good trade.

Carnew Mart

A strong selling trade was evident for the 650 cattle on offer in Carnew Mart on Saturday, according to the Mart Manager David Quinn.

Despite the increase in numbers, prices were similar to last week with the majority of beef and forward steers trading from €1,220-1,740 or €620-940 over.

Moving to the stores, the continental steers sold from €450-810 over, while Friesian lots made from €250-610 over.

Meanwhile, looking at beef heifer prices, these lots sold from €485-850 over, while the store classes made €320-740 over.

There was also a number of weanling bulls and heifers on offer, with the hammer falling on these lots from €430-910 over and €320-740 over respectively.

Plenty of demand was also evident for the cull cows on offer, with the beef lots selling from €320-740 over and the lighter store animals made €60-380 with the weight.

Balla Mart

Cattle remained in demand at Saturday’s sale in Balla Mart, according to the Mart’s Anthony Murphy who said that the 300 cattle met a ‘good dear’ trade.

Store steers weighing in the region of 450kg made from €400-650 over or €1.47-2.41c/kg, while the heavier classes (500kg+) sold from €1.93-2.36/kg.

Sample steer prices:
  • Limousin: 275kg – €735 or €2.67/kg
  • Limousin: 370kg – €980 or €2.48/kg
  • Charolais: 485kg – €1,130 or €2.33/kg
  • Limousin: 570kg – €1,150 or €2.02/kg
  • Charolais: 690kg – €1,560 or €2.26/kg

Heifers, both store and forward, also met a good trade with the store classes averaging from €1.79-2.81/kg and the forward classes made €1.69-2.38/kg.

There was strong competition among buyers for the cows on offer, he said, with the lots on offer meeting a better trade than the week before.

The best priced springer made €1,840, while the fat cows on offer traded from €1.21-2.06/kg.

Sample heifer prices:
  • Limousin: 285kg – €865 or €3.04/kg
  • Charolais: 390kg – €1,025 or €2.63/kg
  • Belgian Blue: 405kg – €1,175 or €2.90/kg
  • Charolais: 550kg – €1,310 or €2.38/kg
  • Belgian Blue: 665kg – €1,475 or €2.22/kg

Castlerea Mart

There was 250 cattle on offer in Castlerea Mart’s first sale of 2017, which was held last Thursday.

The Mart Manager Brendan Egan said the trade was similar to the pre-Christmas period with good demand for all classes of stock on offer.

Quality stores were in strong demand, while the top quality weanling heifers also meet a good trade. The best of the steers on offer traded from €2.19-2.39/kg, while heifer

Quality stores were in strong demand and the top quality weanling heifers also  was also improved in prices while store heifers weighing 420-450kg traded from €2.40-2.81/kg.

The dry cows and breeding stock also reported a firm trade resulting in an excellent clearance.

The best of the dry cows on offer sold from €1,125-1,490, cows with calves a foot made €1,110-1,600/head, while the springing cows made €1,000-1,465/head.

Sample steer prices:
  • Charolais: 450kg – €1,075 or €2.39/kg
  • Limousin: 470kg – €1,070 or €2.28/kg
  • Limousin: 535kg – €1,280 or €2.39/kg
  • Limousin: 515kg – €1,140 or €2.21/kg
  • Limousin: 590kg – €1,330 or €2.25/kg
  • Limousin: 560kg – €1,225 or €2.19/kg