Kilkenny Mart hosted its weekly cattle sale on Thursday (July 16), where 700 cattle went on offer, including a handful of Wagyu heifers, with prices holding after last week's exceptional sale.

The sale was bigger than in previous weeks with demand more than matching supply.

The volume of beef and heavy bullocks through the ring was particularly evident.

Forward store bullocks weighing 600kg and above averaged €3.78/kg, with this remaining unchanged from last week's trade.

The average per head did fall however by €32/head but still sat at €2,550 for this week's trade.

Below are some sample bullock prices from the sale:

A 960kg Limousin bullock made €3,580 at €3.73/kg;
Two 800kg Charolais bullocks made €3,260/head at €4.08/kg;
Two 720kg Angus bullocks made €2,900/head at €4.03/kg.

Bullocks in the 500-600kg range sold from €1,550-€2,270 and averaged €2,004/head, which was down by €72 from last week.

The average per kg also dropped by €0.14/kg to €3.61/kg.

The top call in this range went to a 570kg Charolais bullock making €2,270 or €3.98/kg.

Another 510kg Limousin bullock sold for €2,190 or €4.29/kg, while a pen of five Friesian bullocks weighing on average 580kg sold for €1,900/head or €3.28/kg.

Bullocks in the 400kg-500kg category sold for an average of €4.48/kg, up from last week's €4.12/kg. The average per head jumped €97.

Some of the top sales in this range are listed below:

A 480kg Limousin bullock sold for €2,260 or €4.71/kg;
Two 450kg Limousin bullocks sold for €2,000/head or €4.44/kg;
Two 485kg Charolais bullocks sold for €2,110/head or €4.35/kg.

Light store bullocks below 400kg saw boosts in average price per kg of €0.36/kg to €4.48/kg.

The average per head jumped €139, to €1,613/head, indicating demand reigniting for lighter stock after a period of calm.

The top call per kg went to two Charolais bullocks weighing 300kg each that made €5.77/kg or €1,730/head.

The top call overall went to two Charolais bullocks each weighing 380kg, who made €2,040/head or €5.37/kg.

Heifers

Beef heifers saw trade boosts across the board.

Forward store beef heifers averaged 8c higher than last week but the average/head decreased, indicating the stock were potentially lighter this week but offering higher potential.

Below are some sample heifer prices from the sale:

Two Angus heifers each weighing 505kg sold for €1,850/head or €3.66/kg;
Two Limousin heifers each weighing 425kg sold for €2,140/head at €5.04/kg;
Three Limousin heifers each weighing 445kg sold for €2,110/head or €4.74/kg.

Light store heifers saw a €0.20/kg increase in average price to €4.30/kg.

The average per head ranged from €910 to the top call of €2,080 for a 395kg Limousin heifer, equivalent to €5.27/kg.

Commenting on the sale, Kilkenny Mart auctioneer George Candler pointed to reduced numbers of light to medium weight stores, with some potential buyers not filling their requirements.

This scarcity is potentially behind the drive in heifer store cattle prices in particular.

Heavier beef heifers averaged €3.90/kg.

Some sample prices from the sale can be seen below:

Two Limousin heifers each weighing 650kg sold for €2,450/head or €3.77/kg;
Two Wagyu heifers each weighing 618kg sold for €2,920/head or €4.72/kg;
Three Wagyu heifers weighing 570kg on average sold for €2,820/head or €4.95/kg;
Two Hereford heifers each weighing 565kg sold for €1,980/head or €3.50/kg.

There were 82 cull cows on offer in Kilkenny Mart with Friesian culls ranging from €2.00-€3.35/kg, while continental culls made from €3.40-€4.15/kg.