Delvin Mart in Co. Westmeath is set to host its inaugural winter unaltered fatstock sale of cattle on Thursday, December 3.

The event is set to feature a pre-sale show with 11 different classes as well as over €1,600 in prize money and spot prizes to be given out on the day.

Each class will have a first prize of €100 and a second prize of €50 with various other spot prizes to be presented.

The classes that will be judged on the day include:

Best Continental Heifer;
Best Continental Bullock;
Best Butcher heifer;
Best Traditional Breed Bullock;
Best Continental Cow;
Best Dairy Cow;
Best Pen of Heifers (2+ animals);
Best Pen of Bullocks (2+ animals);
Best Store Bullock;
Best Store Heifer;
Champion Breeding Heifer.

Farmers interested in entering cattle in the show and sale can contact Elliott Potterton or Paddy Leonard at Delvin Mart.

Speaking to Agriland, Delvin Mart's Elliott Potterton said the last fatstock sale hosted by the Pottertons was 35 years ago in Trim.

He said that the decision was made to run the fatstock sale this year at the Delvin Mart venue and there has been a good level of interest in it so far.

The sale gets underway at 10:30a.m.

Potterton expects a range of buyers to be in attendance as well as regular customers including factory buyers, Northern Ireland customers farmers for the store bullocks and breeding heifers.

He said the event promises to be a good day out with good prize money up for grabs across the 11 classes that has been kindly sponsored by local businesses.

Cattle trade at Delvin Mart

Potterton said that the lighter type 450-500kg Angus and Hereford cattle were up 10-15c/kg at the most recent cattle sale, after having fallen in the previous week.

He said that plainer types were averaging €3.30/kg with the better ones averaging €3.45-3.50/kg and the tops making more.

He said that the heavier continental stores in the 600-700kg weight range were making anywhere from €3.45-3.70/kg, depending on the type quality.