Dowra Mart in Co. Cavan hosted its final cattle sale of the year on Saturday, December 14, and its final sheep sale of the on Friday, December 13, with a strong trade seen in both sales.

The Saturday general cattle sale saw a big show of cattle on offer with over 200 dry cows in the sale.

The top price on the day went to a 965kg Limousin dry cow that sold for €3,040 or €3.15/kg.

Other dry cow prices included:

950kg Charolais dry cow sold for €2,860;
815kg Charolais dry cow sold for €2,520;
695kg Limousin dry cow sold for €2,320.

Bullocks made as high as €2,440 for a 745kg Angus bullock with €2,310 paid for a 650kg Charolais bullock.

Lighter bullocks were a firm trade also with €1,480 paid for a 415kg Angus bullocks and and €1,640 paid for a 450kg Angus bullock.

Heavy heifers made as high as €2,310 for a 690kg Charolais heifer with another 705kg Charolais heifer making the same price. A 650kg Limousin heifer make €2,180.

In the lighter heifers, a 250kg Charolais heifer made €950 with a 360kg Charolais heifer making €1,320. 460kg Charolais heifers made up to €1,650.

Weanling bulls made up to €1,700 for a 485kg Charolais bull with a lighter 380kg Belgian Blue bull making €1,500.

In the Friday sheep sale there were just over 1,000 sheep on offer with a top price of €209/head going to a pen of 10 lambs with an average weight of 51kg and another pen of 12 lambs with an average weight of 50.5kg making €207.50/head.

Store lambs were a brisk trade also with seven lambs weighing 42kg making €165/head. A lighter group of 10 store lambs weighing 37.5kg sold for €139.50 and another pen of 10 lambs with an average weight of 29kg sold for €119/head.

Sales at Dowra Mart will recommence on Saturday January 4, with a sheep sale in conjunction with the usual cattle sale for one week only before sheep sales will return to their usual Friday slot.