Cootehill Livestock Mart in Co. Cavan hosted its weekly general cattle sale on Friday (July 17), with the top-end of the continental store bullocks surpassing €5.00/kg.

Speaking to Agriland after the sale, mart manager Stephen Drury said store bullocks were a great trade in the sale with several of the top-quality 400-450kg continental bullocks making over the €5.00/kg.

He said that the 400-500kg continental bullocks made from €2,000 up to €2,300, while store bullocks made from €1,840 up to €2,100 and the lighter stores made from €1,620 up to €1,880.

A 455kg Charolais bullock sold for €2,300 or €5.05/kg and another quality 400kg Charolais bullock made €2,100 or €5.25/kg.

Other sample bullock prices from the sale included:

A 350kg Limousin bullock sold for €1,620 or €4.63/kg;
A 430kg Charolais bullock sold for €2,060 or €4.79/kg;
A 390kg Charolais bullock sold for €2,000 or €5.13/kg.

The Cootehill mart manager said that beef finishers after selling their heavy cattle are coming back to replace these with lighter stores and the confidence amongst these customers seems good.

Drury said that if the current dry weather conditions continue into August, more farmers could start to move cattle on to sell earlier in the year as grass is starting to get tighter in some parts of the country.

In the cull cow sale, Friesian cows were making over €3.00/kg in cases.

A 510kg Friesian cow sold for €1,540 or €3.02/kg and another 550kg Friesian cow sold for €1,620 or €2.95/kg. Another 585kg Angus cow sold for €1,960 or €3.35/kg.

The Cootehill mart manager said specialist feeders remain keen for all types of cull cows at the weekly sale.

A 2021-born Limousin cow with an April-born Charolais bull calf at foot sold for €3,350.

Sample heifer prices from the sale include:

A 535kg Angus heifer sold for €1,960 or €3.66/kg;
515kg Angus heifer sold for €1,880 or €3.65/kg;
450kg Charolais heifer sold for €1,640 or €3.64/kg.

"Buyers competed fiercely from start to finish, with strong farmer, feeder and online interest ensuring a flying trade.

"The exceptional demand for well-presented bullocks shows no sign of easing, with confidence in the beef trade continuing to drive a highly competitive market," Drury said.