Pics and prices: Bullocks sell to a top call of €1,380 at Mountrath Mart

Good-quality continental cattle – with age on their side – met with firm demand at Mountrath Mart on Wednesday last. However, Friesian bullocks met a much tougher trade.

Mart managers Glen Cooper and JJ Peters outlined that fodder shortages are effecting farmers’ confidence at the ringside.

Short-keep types met the best trade, while plainer cattle were more difficult; a trend that is evident in all marts over recent times.

A total of 137 cows, heifers and bullocks were presented for sale and an 88% clearance rate was achieved on the day.

Cows

Some 18 cows passed through the ring of the Laois-based venue. All lots sold bar one, but the €2.00/kg mark struggled to be broken.

: This 590kg, January-2005 born, Simmental cow sold for €735 or €1.24/kg

: This 710kg, March-2010 born, Limousin cow made €1,340 or €1.88/kg

: This 680kg, October-2010 born, Limousin cow sold for €1,210 or €1.77/kg

: This 710kg, April-2008 born, Limousin cow made €1,240 or €1.74/kg

: This 745kg, December-2011 born, Limousin cow sold for €1,390 or €1.86/kg

: This 700kg, February-2006 born, Simmental cow made €1,080 or €1.54/kg

: This 670kg, November-2012 born, Limousin cow sold for €1,160 or €1.73/kg

: This 680kg, April-2003 born, Simmental cow sold for €1,100 or €1.61/kg

: This 650kg, May-2008 born, Limousin cow sold for €1,060 or €1.63/kg

Heifers

Some 53 heifers were on offer and only four went unsold – a clearance rate of 92%. A top call of €1,435 was achieved by a Charolais heifer weighing 660kg.

Heifer lots sold from €400-1,435/head. The better-quality continental stock recorded the best prices and the lower prices were paid for Friesian and Hereford cattle.

: This 595kg, June-2016 born, Simmental heifer sold for €1,230 or €2.06/kg

: These 450kg, October-2016 born, Limousin heifers sold for €845 or €1.87/kg

: These 312kg, April and June-2017 born, Charolais heifers sold for €570 or €1.82/kg

: This 495kg, November-2016 born, Charolais heifer made €790 or €1.59/kg

: This 570kg, April-2016 born, Limousin heifer made €1,170 or €2.05/kg

: This 660kg, March-2016 born, Charolais heifer sold for €1,435 or €2.17/kg

: This 655kg, October-2015 born, Charolais heifer sold for €1,230 or €1.87/kg

: This 540kg, October-2016 born, Charolais heifer made €1,120 or €2.07/kg

: This 600kg, March-2016 born, Simmental heifer made €1,120 or €1.86/kg

: This 545kg, April-2016 born, Limousin heifer sold for €1,130 or €2.07/kg

: These 535kg, April-2016 born, Limousin heifers made €1,240 or €2.31/kg

: These 528kg, May-2016 born, Limousin heifers made €1,200 or €2.27/kg

Bullocks

On the day, 66 bullocks went under the hammer. Again, continental types proved to be the best trade. A number of dairy-influenced steers were also on offer.

Bullocks sold for €450-1,380/head. Friesian lots and traditional breeds achieved the lower prices, while continental cattle realised prices at the upper end of the scale.