Kilkenny Mart held its weekly cattle trade on Thursday (August 6), as 410 animals went through the ring, down on last week, with trade fluctuating significantly across the categories.

Demand for bullocks at the mart remained strong with a clearance of 96%.

This was despite the news that factory prices took a significant hit across the board this week, with steers down over 5.50c/kg.

At Kilkenny Mart, the heavy bullock category saw bullocks over 600kg hold steady this week, averaging €3.95/kg.

The top call went to a pen of four Angus bullocks weighing on average 740kg that sold for €2,960/head at €4.00/kg.

Below are some sample prices for heavy bullocks on the day:

Three 695kg Friesian bullocks sold for €2,280/head at €3.28/kg;
Two 760kg Hereford bullocks sold for €2,940/head at €3.87/kg;
Five Hereford bullocks weighing on average 655kg sold for €2,240/head at €3.42/kg.

Bullocks in the 500kg-600kg range fetched on average €3.97/kg, up from last week's, with the average per head at €2,155.

The top call went to a pen of five Charolais bullocks weighing on average 580kg, sold for €2,580kg at €4.45/kg.

Three 575kg Speckled Park-cross bullocks sold for €1,930/head at €3.36/kg. Another pen of five Charolais bullocks weighing on average 565kg sold for €2,460kg at €4.35/kg.

Cattle in the 400-500kg range averaged €3.95/kg with the average per head at €1,800, up on last week's trade.

The top call went to a pen of four Charolais cattle weighing on average 495kg selling for €2,440 at €4.93/kg.

The uplifts in trade at Kilkenny will be welcome news for farmers following fears that last week's reductions were the beginning of a price depression.

Light store cattle below 400kg saw quality hit as grass shortages continue to impact the trade but prices remained steady.

The top call went to a 385kg Hereford bullock sold for €1,450 at €3.77/kg.

Sample prices from the light store cattle include:

Four Limousin bullocks weighing on average 325kg sold for €1,180/head at €3.63/kg;
A 300kg Friesian bullock sold for €960 at €3.20/kg;
Five Angus bullocks weighing on average 290kg sold for €1,100/head at €3.79/kg;
A 275kg Limousin bullock sold for €1,160 at €4.22/kg.

Cull cows and heifers

The cull cow trade saw another full clearance as Friesian culls traded from €1.50-€3.20/kg, while continental breeds traded up to €3.80/kg.

Beef heifers felt the pinch this week as average prices dropped to €3.35/kg, significantly down on last week's €3.68/kg, as heifer quotes at factories fell by over 5c/kg on average.

The top call of €2,800 went to a 760kg Angus heifer sold for €3.68/kg.

A 665kg Limousin heifer sold for €2,600 at €3.91/kg. A pen of three 650kg Friesian heifers sold for €2,120/head at €3.26/kg.

Forward store heifers averaged €3.35/kg, with the top call per kg going to a 485kg Blonde D'Aquitaine sold for €4.16/kg totalling €2,020.

Some sample prices from the sale include:

Two 500kg Friesian heifers sold for €1,580/head at €3.16/kg;
Three Charolais heifers weighing on average 475kg sold for €1,830/head at €3.85/kg;
Two 455kg Hereford heifers sold for €1,440/head at €3.16/kg;
Two 415kg Charolais heifers sold for €1,600/head at €3.86/kg.

Light store heifers saw another week of cuts at Kilkenny as the average price/kg fell to €3.30/kg, averaging €1,140/head.

The top call went to a 390kg Angus heifer sold for €1,280 at €3.28/kg.

The top call per kg went to a 275kg Limousin heifer sold for €4.18/kg totalling €1,150.

A 320kg Hereford heifer sold for €1,100 at €3.44/kg. Another pen of Three 340kg Angus heifers sold for €1,100/head at €3.24/kg., while two 365kg Angus heifers sold for €1,130/head at €3.10/kg.

Commenting on the trade, Kilkenny mart Auctioneer George Candler described the heifer trade as "sticky" with an 87% clearance rate, except for the better quality lots, who were in short supply.