The trade was a little easier for plainer cattle in Kilkenny Mart yesterday (Thursday), according to the Mart Auctioneer George Candler.
Candler said that there was a large number of cattle on offer, but the trade was weaker as many buyers in the South East are still waiting on grass to grow.
He also said that the poor weather forecast for this weekend impacted on the trade and as a result it may take a week or two for prices to recover.
In Kilkenny Mart on Thursday, forward beef heifers made €2.00-2.55/kg, while the forward store classes traded from €2.00-2.70/kg.
Lighter store heifers weighing less than 400kg made €1.80-2.95/kg.
In the cull ring, Friesian cull cows traded from €1.00-1.75/kg while the better quality continental cows made €1.35-2.00/kg. The steer trade was also a little easier in Kilkenny Mart on Thursday. Heavy steers weighing over 600kg made €1.85-2.30/kg or €580-830 over. Lighter steers weighting 500-600kg made €1.80-2.70/kg.
Light steers weighing 400-500kg traded at €1.70-2.90/kg or €360-850 over.
Further north in Raphoe Mart, there was a lively trade for weanlings, with grass and store buyers active around the ring, according to the Mart Manager Anne Harkin.
Bull weanlings for further feeding sold from €2.40-2.80/kg, while bulls purchased for grazing traded at €2.55-3.00/kg, some of the lighter lots on offer made up to €3.60/kg.
The majority of the heifers on offer were purchased for grazing and these lots met a lively trade selling from €2.40-2.80/kg, the lighter lots met with the best demand and sold to a top price of €3.40/kg.
Cattle Marts – Raphoe Mart