Clare Co-Operative Mart held its weekly cattle sale in Ennis Mart on Thursday (August 13) as numbers through the ring fell below 500 though trading for the week stayed positive.

In a mart report, it was noted that were was a distinct change of direction in the bullock ring as the number of stores on offer rose sharply to make up the largest share of bullocks on offer.

The shortage of heavy bullocks coincided with bullocks over 700kg being dearer by €0.15/kg.

Averages for heavy bullocks sat at €4.09/kg, benefitting from the sudden scarcity.

Some sample prices from the sale include:

A 700kg Charolais bullock sold for €3,290 at €4.22/kg;
Four Limousin-cross bullocks weighing on average 700kg sold for €2,950/head at €4.18/kg;
A 770kg Limousin-cross bullock sold for €3,100 at €4.03/kg.

Store bullocks weighing up to 550kg saw price increases, while bullocks between 550-700kg saw the trade remain in line with last week's prices.

Some sample prices from the sale include:

Four Charolais bullocks weighing on average 664kg sold for €2,850/head at €4.29/kg;
Four Charolais-cross bullocks weighing on average 700kg sold for €3,030/head at €4.33/kg;
A 650kg Angus-cross bullock sold for €2,430 at €3.73/kg;
A 595kg Limousin-cross bullock sold for €2,640 at €4.44/kg;
12 Hereford-cross bullocks weighing on average 440kg sold for €1,570/head at €3.57/kg;
Four Charolais-cross bullocks weighing on average 469kg sold for €2,300/head at €4.91/kg.

The heifer ring also saw price increases as store heifers were 5c/kg dearer this week, while beef heifers were 10c/kg dearer on average.

This was in a week where factory quotes saw heifer prices down by 10.50c/kg on average.

A standout sale was the €1,780 paid for a 380kg Limousin-cross heifer sold for €4.65/kg.

Other sales from the store ring included the €1,880 paid for a 470kg Hereford-cross heifer at €4.00/kg, while a 470kg Hereford-cross heifer made €1,660 at €3.57/kg.

Other sample prices from the sale include:

A 650kg Limousin-cross heifer sold for €2,700 at €4.15/kg;
A 685kg Charolais heifer sold for €2,780 at €4.06/kg;
A 590kg Limousin-cross heifer sold for €2,560 at €4.34/kg.

A dozen aged bulls averaged €3.13/kg with a Charolais bull weighing 1,040kg making €3,600 at €3.46/kg.

Meanwhile, in the cull cow sale, a 755kg Charolais cow made €2,880 at €3.81/kg.

One 685kg Friesian cow made €1,950 at €2.93/kg, while a 745kg Hereford-cross cow made €2,620 at €3.51/kg.

Kilrush Mart

Clare Co-Operative Mart also held its weekly cattle sale in Kilrush Mart on Wednesday, August 12, as just 57 cattle went through the ring.

The standout sale from the bullock ring was the €1,620 that a 380kg Charolais bullock fetched at €4.26/kg.

Bullocks on average made below €3.50/kg.

Some further sample prices from the sale include:

Five Hereford-cross bullocks weighing on average 398kg, sold for €1,360/head at €3.41/kg;
Three Hereford-cross bullocks weighing on average 476kg, sold for €1,460/head at €3.06/kg
Two 425kg Hereford-cross bullocks sold for €1,490 at €3.50/kg.

Both the bullock and heifer rings saw lighter cattle with stores dominating.

One 280kg Limousin-cross heifer sold for €1,140 at €4.07/kg.

A 415kg Hereford-cross heifer made €1,350/head at €3.25/kg, while a pen of three Hereford-cross heifers sold for €1,210/head at €3.02/kg

The number of culls was small but consisted mainly of Friesians who met a good trade.

Prices averaged from €2.20-€2.40/kg on the day in Kilrush Mart.