Carnew Mart in Co. Wicklow hosted its calf and general cattle sale on Saturday June 28, with over 230 calves and almost 500 cattle on offer.

Commenting on the trade, Carnew Mart's Eugene Clune said the smaller, lighter Hereford and Angus calves sold from €330-€480/head, while the Friesian shipping calves sold from €180-€360/head with the stronger farmer-type calves making anywhere from €310-€600.

There was a special entry of strong, reared calves selling from €840-€1,000 for continentals, with the Hereford and Angus selling from €600-€810.

There was a full clearance of the calves and cattle offered in the sale.

In the cattle sale, Clune said that prices were up anywhere from €40-€100/head in cases on the previous week.

He said: "Strong cattle sold very well with €4.20-€4.50/kg commonly available for forward and fat heifers and bullocks.

On cow prices, Clune said "several lorry-loads of Friesian cows averaged well in excess of €3.00/kg, while a small number of coloured cows met a super trade with up to €4,020 given for an 892kg Limousin cow.

Other notable cow prices from the sale:

700kg Limousin cow sold for €3,080 or €4.40/kg;
606kg Aubrac cow sold for €2,550 or €4.21/kg;
806kg Friesian cow sold for €2,960 or €3.67/kg;
640kg Simmental cow sold for €2,340 or €3.65/kg.

Small store heifers were "a much improved trade throughout" with continental-sired heifers bred from dairy cows passing €4.00/kg and a top price of €6.17/kg paid for for five Limousin-cross heifers weighing 196kg that made €1,210

Heifer prices from the Carnew Mart sale:

656kg Limousin heifer sold for €3,260 or €4.97/kg;
Five 196kg Limousin heifers sold for €1,210 or €6.17/kg;
269kg Charolais heifer sold for €1,630 or €5.51/kg;
382kg Limousin heifer sold for €1,880 or €4.92/kg.

Quality store bullocks crossed €5.00/kg in many cases, with €5.77/kg paid for a 274kg Charolais bullock that made €1,580.

Bullock prices from the sale:

Two 734kg Limousin bullocks sold for €3,300 or €4.50/kg;
670kg Charolais bullock sold for €3,140 or €4.69/kg;
692kg Limousin bullock old for €3,190 or €4.61/kg;
Three 292kg Limousin bullocks sold for €1,570/head or €5.36/kg.

There was a very strong demand from both factory agents and wholesalers at the Carnew Mart sale, with many farmers ringside and online to buy the store cattle, according to Clune.

Weanling bull prices from the sale:

336kg Limousin bull sold for €1,780 or €5.30/kg;
312kg Limousin bull sold for €1,650 or €5.29/kg;
Four 341kg Angus bulls sold for €1,540 or €4.51/kg.

There was a small entry of bulls, with a top price of €5.30/kg for a 336kg Limousin bull that made €1,780.