Mart managers from around the country are reporting increased trade in both store and weanling cattle around the country this week.

Over 700 head of cattle went to market in New Ross on Saturday last with a very good trade, for both store cattle and those fit for slaughter, reported by mart manager Richard Kirwan.

Continental steers ready for slaughter made anything between €500-€900 over the €1/kg base, while stores were €400-€740 over.

Friesian stores showed up well also with prices ranging between €400-€570 over.

Continental type heifers traded for between €480-€880 over base price for fit lots, while store heifers fetched €325-€680 over in the ring.

There was a number of culled cow lots at New Ross also, with Friesian lots going for €1-€280 over. Their suckler counterparts did a much stronger trade with lots going for between €280-€645 over the base of €1/kg.

Headford Mart

Manager of Headford Mart, Joe Wynne, reported a strong sale on Saturday last also.

Much of the trade was in store cattle but Wynne said there was a lot of interest in the weanling lots too.

Sample weanling prices:

  • Charolais Bull: 360kg – €900 or €2.50/kg
  • Belgian Blue Bull: 370kg – €960 or €2.60/kg
  • Charolais Heifer: 310kg – €700 or €2.26/kg
  • Charolais Heifer: 260kg – €600 or €2.30/kg

The store heifers started at €1.85/kg for Limousin lots and the top Charolais heifers went for €2.25/kg.

Steers were similar to this with Charolais bullocks making between €2.14/kg and €2.25/kg while heavy Hereford lots made €1.80-€2.00/kg.

Dingle Mart

Mart Manager Neilus McAuliffe was bullish about trade in Dingle mart where full clearance of 330 head of cattle was achieved from the ring.

Sample store prices:

  • Limousin Steer: 440kg – €990 or €2.25/kg
  • Limousin Steer: 600kg – €1310 or € 2.18/kg
  • Aberdeen Angus Heifer: 400kg – €780 or €1.95/kg
  • Hereford Heifer: 445kg – €790 or €1.77/kg

McAuliffe also reported good demand for weanlings. Limousin bulls averaged at €2.57/kg while heifers made €2.45/kg.

The best animal at the sale was a 660kg Charolais heifer which sold for €1,630 making €2.46/kg.