Kilkenny Mart held its weekly cattle sale on Thursday (August 13), as 470 animals went through the ring, with the trade avoiding another fall in prices this week.

The numbers were up on last week but have remained down since the beginning of August, failing to reach the figures of well over 600 cattle seen in July.

Bullocks and bulls in the 600kg-plus category saw prices range from €3.15-€4.10/kg.

The top call went to a Charolais bull weighing 1,080kg that fetched €3,850 at €3.56/kg.

Other sample prices from the sale include:

Two 850kg Limousin bullocks made €3,360/head at €3.56/kg;
Four Charolais bullocks weighing on average 815kg made €3,080/head at €3.95/kg;
Four Angus bullocks weighing on average 670kg made €2,360/head at €3.52/kg.

Bullocks weighing between 500-600kg sold for between €3.13-€4.35/kg with a top call of €2,320/head for a pen of four Charolais bullocks weighing on average 580kg, at €4.00/kg.

Five Limousin bullocks weighing on average 560kg sold for €2,300/head at €4.11/kg. Another pen of three 555kg Hereford bullocks sold for €1,970/head at €3.55/kg.

Bullocks in the 400-500kg range averaged €3.60/kg and €1,630/head.

The top call went to three 475kg Limousin bullocks fetching €2,350/head at €4.95/kg.

Other notable sales from this category include:

Three 495kg Limousin bullocks made €1,950/head at €3.94/kg;
Three 460kg Charolais bullocks made €2,290/head at €4.98/kg;
Eight Angus bullocks weighing on average 450kg sold for €1,750/head at €3.89/kg.

Store bullocks below 400kg saw an average price of €3.70/kg at €1,360/head, with a top call of €1,630 for a 395kg Simmental bullock at €4.13/kg.

Five Limousin bullocks weighing on average 385kg made €1,620/head at €4.21/kg. Two 350kg Angus bullocks made €1,290/head at €3.69/kg.

Cows and heifers

The cull cow trade saw 35 cows through the ring with Friesian cows making from €1.80/kg to €3.10/kg as continental cows made up to €3.60/kg.

Commenting on the trade Kilkenny Mart auctioneer George Candler noted how the cows sold well, partially aided by the scarcity.

Beef heifers averaged €3.50/kg at €1,880/head on the day.

The top call of €2,500 went to a 680kg Limousin heifer sold at €3.68/kg.

Some other sample prices for heifers on the day include:

Two 665kg Angus heifers made €2,440/head at €3.67/kg;
A 605kg Friesian heifer made €1,900 at €3.14/kg;
Two 575kg Angus heifers made €1,840/head at €3.20/kg;

Forward store heifers averaged €3.50/kg at €1,680/head.

Two 495kg Charolais heifers made €1,980 at €4.00/kg. Another two 470kg Hereford heifers made €1,600 at €3.40/kg.

Six Angus heifers weighing on average 460kg sold for €3.33/kg totalling €1,530/head.

Light store heifers averaged €3.65/kg at €1,387/head.

The top call and highest price per kg went to a 490kg Limousin heifer that sold for €1,950 at €5.00/kg.

Some sample prices for light store heifers include:

Three 395kg Hereford heifers made €1,410/head at €3.57/kg;
Four Angus heifers weighing on average 380kg sold for €1,380/head at €3.63/kg;
Four Charolais heifers weighing on average 350kg sold for €1,300/head at €3.71/kg.

Commenting on the bullock and heifer trade, Candler added that quality was rewarded with better cattle, especially in the store trade with prices between €4-€5/kg.