Golden Vale Marts (GVM) held its weekly cattle sale at Kilmallock Mart in Co. Limerick, on Monday (July 20), where numbers were back as farmers continue to celebrate Limerick's recent win in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.

The sale featured approximately 400 cattle through the ring this week.

Beef cattle near slaughter met "a flying trade" despite the smaller numbers and clearance rates were well above 90%, according to a sale report from the mart venue.

The current dry spell is beginning to impact demand, with Kilmallock Mart reporting that "poor grass growth of recent weeks saw the store trade a little easier."

Lighter bullocks weighing up to 550kg, typically store cattle, saw prices up to €2,030/head and €4.50/kg.

The top call in this category was €2,030 paid for a 545kg Hereford bullock that made €3.72/kg.

Heavier bullocks, weighing over 550kg, sold for up to €3,110/head and up to €4.30/kg.

The top call in the heavy bullock section was €3,110/head for two Simmental-cross bullocks weighing 805kg each and selling for €3.86/kg.

Other notable bullock prices included:

Two 705kg Limousin bullocks sold for €2,910/head or €4.13/kg;
A 640kg Hereford bullock sold for €2,300 or €3.59/kg;
Two 695kg Angus-cross bullocks sold for €2,600/head or €3.74/kg;
Two 530kg Limousin-cross bullocks sold for €2,000/head or €3.77/kg;
Four 380kg Limousin-cross bullocks sold for €1,710/head or €4.50/kg;
Two 310kg Angus-cross bullocks sold for €1,150/head or €3.71/kg.

The dry cow sale also saw some strong prices with a top call of €3,130 or €3.37/kg paid for a 930kg Charolais-cross cow.

A 495kg Friesian-cross cow sold for €1,020 or €2.06/kg. An 865kg Hereford-cross cow sold for €2,720 or €3.14/kg.

Lighter heifers fetched up to €1,780/head for an Angus-cross heifer weighing 485kg selling at 3.67/kg.

Other notable heifer sale prices included:

Seven 221kg Angus-cross heifers sold for €920/head or €4.16/kg;
Six 319kg Hereford-cross heifers sold for €1,280/head or €4.01/kg.

Heavier heifers saw prices reach €2,540/head for three Angus-cross heifers weighing 658kg each, equating to €3.86/kg.

The top call per kg for heavier heifers was €4.02/kg, paid for three 612kg Charolais-cross heifers making €2,460/head.

A selection of bulls were also offered in the sale at Kilmallock Mart and these saw prices up to €2,900/head and topped out per kg at €3.04/kg.

Young stock trade

Runners sold for up to €900/head while calves fetched up to €625/head.

Commenting on the sale, Kilmallock Mart's Shane Egan said: “Feedlot buyers were very active around the bullock, heifer, and the cow rings.

"Export buyers were also active and there as a strong demand for runners from farmers also.”

Kilmallock Mart will hold its next cattle sale on Monday, July 27.

The first weanling show and sale of the season will take place on Tuesday, August 11, at 6:00pm.