Kilkenny Mart held its weekly cattle sale on Thursday, June 11, with 340 cattle on offer with a 99% clearance rate, where observant buyers will have noticed changes in pricing trends.

The number of cattle was up marginally on last week but are down significantly on 2025 levels, according to Kilkenny Mart auctioneer George Candler.

Speaking to Agriland, Candler described the mart trade as being "solid but not spectacular" and noted how there was great demand for continental stores which "are going from €4.20-€4.80/kg".

The drop in the numbers of heavier, forward store cattle around the 500kg mark was "unusual for Kilkenny".

Over 600kg cattle sold for €3.46/kg on average, up €0.06 from last week with price/head ranging from €2,040-€2,730.

A Charolais bullock weighing 780kg made €2,730 or €3.50/kg;
A Belgian Blue bullock weighing 600kg made €2,080 or €3.47/kg.

500kg-600kg cattle averaged €3.71/kg with no change from last week.

Three Simmental bullocks with an average weight of 592kg made €2,020/head or €3.41/kg;
Four Limousin bullocks with an average weight of 555kgs made €2,090/head or €3.77/kg;

400-500kg bullocks averaged €4.10/kg and ranged from €1,730-€2,340/head

Interestingly, bullocks weighing less than 400kgs saw prices drop back to €3.90/kg (from €4.15/kg).

This goes against the previously seen trends of lighter cattle seeing continuous price increases.

According to Candler, this may be a sign of stabilisation within the market.

Heavy and forward store heifers saw the best performance on the day with heavy heifers averaging €3.56/kg up from the €3.40 last week.

Forward store heifers saw the average/head go from €1,790 last week to €1,890 this week.

Two heavy Limousin heifers weighing on average, 730kg made €2,070/head or €3.73/kg;
Two heavy Hereford heifers weighing on average 630kg, made €2,290/head or €3.63/kg;
Angus heifer weighing 525kgs made €2,080 or €3.96/kg;
Limousin heifer weighing 500kgs made €1,860 or €3.72/kg;

Light store heifers saw a minimal reduction of €0.03 to €3.80/kg and average/head remained relatively stable at €1,330 (down €30).

A Limousin heifer weighing 395kg made €1,690 or €3.95/kg;
Nine Angus heifers weighing on average 370kg made €1,270/head or €3.74/kg;

50 cull cows were on offer in the sale with Friesian cull cows going from €1.80-€3.10/kg, while continental cull cows fetched from €2.80- €3.80/kg.

Candler also observed that Friesian bullocks are seeing price drops with perspective buyers opting for "British Friesians as opposed to Holstein Friesians".