Grass buyers are becoming more and more common in marts across the country and are playing a vital role in boosting cattle prices.

The weather has been good in recent weeks and, on the back of good growth rates in some locations, some grass buyers are getting itchy feet to buy.

Castlerea Mart

Castlerea Mart held its weekly sale on Thursday, where there was a big turnout of stock and prices remained relatively strong.

The sale was attended by a large number of grass buyers, farmers and agents, while exporters were also active – which resulted in an excellent clearance rate for the stock on offer.

Heifers and dry cows continued to meet a firm trade in the Co. Roscommon venue, with prices up by €20-30/head in some cases.

Dry cows traded at €1.90-2.27/kg. Cows with calves at foot made €1,080-2,240 and in-calf cows traded for €850-1,610/head.

There was a number of heifers on offer and animals weighing 400-500kg made €2.47-2.79/kg, while heifers weighing 500-600kg traded at €2.60-2.70/kg.

Sample weanling prices:
  • Charolais bull: 285kg – €1,035 or €3.63/kg
  • Angus bull: 295kg – €925 or €3.19/kg
  • Limousin bull: 420kg – €1,290 or €3.07/kg
  • Charolais bull: 370kg – €1,225 or €3.31/kg
  • Limousin heifer: 295kg – €980 or €3.32/kg
  • Charolais heifer: 275kg – €885 or €3.22/kg
  • Simmental heifer: 330kg – €1,200 or €3.64/kg
  • Limousin heifer: 400kg – €1,135 or €2.84/kg

Kilrush Mart

There was a brisk trade for the 420 lots of cattle on offer in Kilrush Mart on Wednesday.

A number of calves passed through the ring and Friesian types traded for €50-165. Angus and Hereford calves made €75-280, while the continentals on offer sold for up to €300.

Heifers and steers were also in strong demand and made €1.86-3.13/kg and €2.18-2.87/kg respectively.

The sale also featured a number of suckler cows with calves at foot and these lots made €900-1,850, while the dry cows on offer traded for €1.52-1.97/kg.

Sample heifer and steer prices:
  • Limousin heifer: 345kg – €860 or €2.49/kg
  • 4 Charolais heifers: 294kg – €750 or €2.55/kg
  • 2 Hereford heifers: 452kg – €985 or €2.18/kg
  • 5 Charolais steers: 316kg – €990 or €3.13/kg
  • 3 Friesian steers: 477kg – €890 or €1.86/kg
  • Simmental steer: 550kg – €1,325 or €2.41/kg

Roscommon Mart

Roscommon Mart held its weanling sale on Tuesday and it was well attended by exporters, agents and farmers.

There was a good entry of stock on offer and bull weanlings, which met with an excellent trade, sold for €2.71-3.50/kg or €450 to €880 over.

The weanling heifer trade also posted a slight improvement; the lots on offer sold for €2.58-3.53/kg or €355-830 over.

Sample weanling prices:
  • Belgian Blue heifer: 450kg – €1,280 or €2.84/kg
  • Charolais heifer: 330kg – €1,165 or €3.53/kg
  • Limousin heifer: 310kg – €965 or €3.11/kg
  • Simmental heifer: 355kg – €925 or €2.61/kg
  • Belgian Blue bull: 425kg – €1,255 or €2.95/kg
  • Charolais bull: 475kg – €1,250 or €2.63/kg
  • Limousin bull: 380kg – €1,080 or €2.84/kg
  • Angus bull: 365kg – €900 or €2.47/kg