Tullow Mart in Co. Carlow held its weekly cattle sale on Friday (August 21), with activity increasing as exporters, finishers, and farmers drove up prices on the day.

The mart saw store heifers weighing up to 495kg sell for between €1,250-€1,880/head, fetching from €4.03-€4.24/kg.

Beef heifers weighing up to 700kg, sold for between €1,590-€2,700/head, making between €3.14-€4.05/kg.

Some other notable prices from the sale include:

A 700kg Charolais-cross heifer sold for €2,700 at €3.86/kg;
A 670kg Limousin-cross heifer made €2,700 at €4.03/kg.

The ring saw store bullocks weighing up to 495kg make between €1,190-€1,790/head, at €3.62-€4.24/kg.

The trade was described as "brighter", as another week of factory cuts and the continuing lack of rain dominate ringside discussions.

Beef bullocks weighing up to 730kg sold for between €2,300-€2,700, averaging between €3.60-€4.15/kg.

Two Charolais bullocks each weighing 550kg, sold for €2,380/head at €4.33/kg, while a 730kg Limousin-cross bullock made €2,530 at €3.47/kg.

The mart also saw a number of beef bulls go through the ring, with these weighing up to 1,000kg and making from €2,100-€3,200/head, at €3.75-€4.15/kg.

Tullow also saw Friesian-type cull cows weighing up to 855kg sold for between €1,350-€2,400/head at €2.65-€2.80/kg.

Weanling bulls weighing up to 585kg, sold for between €1,520-€2,500/head, making between €4.10-€4.60/head.

Speaking to Agriland, Tullow mart manager Eric Driver described the weanling bulls as 'R+' or 'U' type, with lighter weanlings more attractive to shippers.

Weanling bulls sold to shippers averaged €3.80-€4.50/kg, with better quality lots fetching in excess of €5.00/kg.

Some sample prices from the sale include:

A 470kg Limousin-cross bull made €2,200 at €4.68/kg;
A 495kg Limousin-cross bull made €2,140 at €4.32/kg;
A 540kg Charolais-cross bull made €2,250 at €4.17/kg;
Four Limousin-cross bulls weighing an average of 380kg sold for between €2,000/head at €5.26/kg.

The trade was boosted by the arrival of winter feeders which helped hold a base in the trade.

Buyers were most interested in forward store bullocks, that are closer to finishing.

Farmer sentiment

Driver spoke of how farmers seemed confident, with the beef trade seeing the results as a positive trade occurred.

He said the optimism was stemming from the old adage that "no two years are the same, and we're hoping this will be the case with this year and next".

The lighter store bullocks continue to feel the pinch as drought continues to dominate the trade.

Driver added that rain was not expected this week either, meaning it will be September before any rain falls in Co. Carlow, let alone kicks on growth.

The mart will hold a suckler sale on this Friday, where 20 continental cows with their calves at foot, and back running with an Aubrac bull, will be sold.

Tullow Mart will also be holding a production sale on Saturday, where 100 continental in-calf heifers will go through the ring.

These heifers are all scanned in-calf to Limousin sires, with calving expected to begin in September and carry on until mid-January.