Tullow Mart in Co. Carlow held its weekly cattle sale on Friday (August 14), with trade showing positive signs despite recent factory cutbacks and ongoing drought challenges.

The beef trade was boosted by a significant increase in factory agent activity, as reported to Agriland by Tullow Mart manager Eric Driver.

Driver noted that activity ringside was boosted due to factory agents being "anxious" to secure cattle.

Store heifers ranged in weight from 260-450kg and fetched from €1,040-€1,820 per head. The price per kg ranged from €3.75-€4.20/kg.

Beef heifers ranged in weight on the day from 525-720kg as they fetched from €2,160-€2,480/head. Beef heifers saw prices from €3.70-€4.10/kg.

Store bullocks ranged in weight from 335-495kg on the day in Tullow.

These cattle fetched between €1,400-€1,850/head, with the price per kg ranging from €3.75-€4.20/kg.

Beef bullocks ranged in weight from 500kg to €750kg, with these bullocks getting from €1,880/head all the way up to €2,880/head. The price/kg ranged from €3.60-€4.15/kg.

The mart saw Friesian-type cull cows ranging from 540-850kg sell for between €1,180-€2,480/head. The range for price/kg went from €2.18-€3.25/kg.

The increases will come as welcome news for farmers selling considering that factories have cut prices across the board again this week.

Steers in particular saw nearly 12c cut from average quotes from factories, which brings the average back to €6.80 for the week.

The weekly kill also increased again this week. Further increases can expected if the trend of increased factory agent activity seen in Tullow is reflected across the country.

Blessington Mart

Meanwhile, Blessington Mart in Co. Wicklow hosted its weekly cattle sale on Thursday (August 13), with a small number of cattle and trade remaining similar to last week's.

Continental store bullocks ranged in price from €3.20-€4.14/kg, while Hereford and Angus store bullocks ranged from €3.06-€3.67/kg.

Continental store heifers ranged from €3.24-€4.35/kg. Meanwhile Hereford and Angus store heifers ranged from €3.12-€3.57/kg.

A number of beef cows on offer fetched from €1,230 to €1,800 per head in the Co. Wicklow-based mart.