A new mart manger is set to take the reins at Kanturk Mart, Co. Cork early in the new year as the outgoing manager has announced his retirement.

Seamus O’Keefe was the mart manager at Kanturk Mart for the past 25 years and is set to retire at the end of this year.

He will be replaced by Colette O’Connell who is certainly no stranger to the mart with over 15 years experience working there.

Kanturk Mart fatstock sale

The Co. Cork-based mart venue hosted its annual fat stock sale on Tuesday, November 26, with over 500 cattle on show at the event.

Speaking to Agriland after the sale, Kanturk’s Mart’s Colette O’Connell said there was “a sale of great-quality cattle on offer”.

The top price on the day went to the reserve champion in the pre-sale show owned by Denis O’Connor. The 885kg Belgian Blue bullock was sold to Gerald Ryan for €4,350 or €4.91/kg.

The Supreme Champion of the show sold was owned by John O’Connor and weighing 710kg, the Belgian Blue-cross heifer sold for €3,600 or €5.07/kg.

Other impressive prices on the day included a 585kg Angus-cross heifer winning the Duhallow Heifer class. Owned by Eimear O’Connor, this heifer sold for €2,000 or €3.41/kg.

The champion beef bullock was a 730kg Limousin cross bullock owned by Paddy Hartnett selling for €2,850 or €3.90/kg.

The incoming mart manager said: “There was a 100% clearance with a great demand for all breeds of cattle in the sale”.

In the cow sale, some of the top prices included €3,400 or €3.63/kg that went to a 935kg Limousin cross cow owned by David Murphy. An 885kg Friesian cow owned by Jim and Joanne McMahon sold for €2,100 or €2.37/kg while another 890kg Friesian cow sold for €2,150 or €2.41/kg.

In the bullock sale, the best pen of Hereford bullocks were sold by Denis Murphy. Averaging 645kg, these bullocks sold for €2,080 or €3.22/kg.

The best pen of Angus bullocks were sold by Jim and Joanne McMahon. Averaging 671kg, these cattle made €2,200/head or €3.27/kg.

The best pen of Angus heifers were sold by Kevin O’Sullivan. Averaging 655kg, these heifers sold for €2,200/head or €3.36/kg.