Kilkenny Mart held its weekly cattle sale on Thursday (July 23), where lighter continentals and culls saw the best of the trade as grass growth remains exceptionally low.

The trade was marginally smaller than last week's with 680 cattle through the ring.

Commenting on the sale, Kilkenny Mart auctioneer George Candler described it as a "good solid trade for quality lots".

The sale saw 220 bullocks in excess of 600kg through the ring,

With trade for forward store cattle described as "sticky", grass scarcity was also reported to be impacting the trade.

The 600kg+ category saw cattle average €3.55/kg, well down from last week's €3.85/kg.

Final calls ranged from €1,820 to the €4,060 paid for a 1,185kg Charolais bull at €3.43/kg.

Some further prices for heavier cattle include:

Three 800kg Limousin bullocks made €2,950/head at €3.69/kg;
Three 710kg Angus bullocks made €2,660/head at €3.75/kg;
Three 800kg Limousin bullocks made €2,950/head at €3.69/kg;
Two 685kg Aubrac bullocks made €2,560/head at €3.74/kg;

Bullocks in the 500-600kg category were the only animals to see an increase as the average price jumped 10c to €3.71.

The top call of €2,700 going to two 565kg Charolais bullocks sold at €4.78/kg.

Other notable sales included the two 500kg Limousin bullocks selling for €2,100 at €4.20/kg, and a pen of three 550kg Simmental bullocks that sold for €1,950 at €3.55/kg.

The 400-500kg range took the biggest hit as average prices fell by 50c to €3.60 this week. The top call went to two 480kg Charolais bullocks who made €2,380/head at €4.96/kg.

Some further sample prices in this category include:

Three 460kg Belgian Blue bullocks sold for €1,800/head at €3.91/kg;
Three 405kg Limousin bullocks made €2,270/head at €5.60/kg, the top call per kg.

Light store bullocks (<400kg) saw a 30c hit to the average price/kg as it fell to €4.16/kg.

The top call went to two 390kg Limousin bullocks sold for €2,100 at €5.38/kg.

Other sample prices from this category include:

Two 395kg Angus bullocks made €1,500/head at €3.80/kg;
Three 290kg Hereford bullocks made €1,130/head at €4.91/kg.

Commenting on the demand, Candler said there was "less customers for the beef-type animals with a large number on offer in this sector."

Cull cows and heifers

Cull cows saw the best of the trade as there was a full clearance on the 80 cows through the ring, with Friesian cows going from €2.00/kg to €3.20/kg.

Continentals saw prices up to €3.80/kg in an "excellent trade".

Beef heifers saw prices back as the average fell to €3.58/kg. The top call of €2,490 went to a 670kg Charolais heifer at €3.72/kg.

Some other sample prices for beef heifers include:

Two 600kg Angus heifers made €2,070/head at €3.45/kg;
Two 650kg Charolais heifers made €2,400/head at €3.69/kg;
Two 635kg Hereford heifers made €2,200/head at €3.46/kg.

Forward store heifers saw a similar drop to an average of €3.52/kg. The top call went to a Charolais heifer weighing 565kg that made €2,400 at €4.25/kg.

A pen of six Angus heifers weighing on average 540kg each sold for €1,950/head at €3.61/kg. Three 500kg Angus heifers sold for €1,760/head at €3.52/kg.

Lighter store heifers dropped nearly 40c on average to €3.67/kg this week. The top call went to a 360kg Charolais heifer making €4.39/kg, totalling €1,580.

Two 380kg Speckle Park-cross heifers sold for €1,440/head at €3.79/kg. Five Charolais heifers weighing on average 340kg each sold for €1,550/head at €4.56/kg.