The mart trade for cattle witnessed further strengthening over the weekend, with northern and online buyers providing a great boost to the trade, in particular for heavier-type cattle.

Carnew Mart noted an increase in price of anywhere between €50-€100/head for both store and factory-type cattle.

This article gives an overview of three cattle sales which took place over the weekend - Carnew, Balla and Headford marts - and a sample of the prices and the trade seen at these sales.

Balla Mart, Co. Mayo, hosted its weekly cattle sale on Saturday, May 7, with just over 800 lots on offer.

There was a ‘savage’ trade witnessed on the day with some quality beef cattle both heifers and bullocks reaching prices in excess of €3.15c/kg.

In particular, heavy bullocks and cows were described as ‘a mighty trade’ with online factory and northern-based buyers pushing prices and further adding to the demand.

Bullocks weighing 300-400kg averaged €2.68/kg with store bullocks 400kg-500kg averaged €2.82/kg.

Heavier bullocks weighing over 500kg averaged for the first time in the mart's history an exceptional €3.05/kg with the top lots making from €3.10/kg to €3.58/kg.

Top bullock prices from Balla Mart:

There were nearly 300 heifers on offer at Balla Mart's weekend sale and an improved trade was witnissed.

Nice-quality store animals met a good clearance with heifers up to 400 kg averaving €2.74/kg.

Heifers 400kg to 500kg averaged €2.84kg while over 500kg heifers averaged 2.94/kg.

Top heifer prices from Balla Mart:

The third ring was in operation at Balla Mart for cows and, as usual, cow numbers remain large with 130 dry cows and 40 sucklers on offer.

Dry cow prices were up at Balla Mart due to the presence of some Northern Ireland and online buyers.

Top cow prices from Balla Mart:

The weanling sale took place on Saturday as the special weanling sales on Tuesday evenings have come to an end for the season.

Bull weanlings ranging from 200kg to 350kg averaged €2.92/kg with bull Weanlings 350kg to 450kg averaging €2.54/kg.

A cracking trade was also seen at the weekly cattle sale at Headford Mart, Co. Galway.

The top price in the bullock ring went to a 720kg Charolais-cross bullock which made €2,080 or €2.89/kg and the best price per kg on the day was €4.56, secured by a quality weanling bull.

Sample bullock prices at Headford Mart:

Competition continued at the cull cow ring at Headford Mart with prices ranging from €850 for a 380kg Angus-cross cow up to €1,790 for 690kg Charolais-cross cow.

Two-thirds of the cows on offer made more than €1,300 and aged heifers sold to a tops of €2,170 or €3.08/kg for a 705kg Charolais heifer.

In terms of weight, cattle under 500kg averaged of €2.85/kg. Cattle from 500-600kg averaged €2.75/kg. 600-650kg cattle averaged €2.82/kg and cattle over 650kg ranged in price from from €2.20/kg through to €3.08/kg.

A total of 1,725 cattle went through Carnew Mart, Co. Wicklow on Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7, with a blazing trade throughout.

Yard manager Eugene Clune noted that cattle were up anywhere from €50-€100 a head for both store and factory cattle.

Some on the top prices from Carnew Mart were:

Top cow prices from Carnew Mart:

Top heifer prices from Carnew Mart:

Top bullock prices from Carnew Mart:

Cows with calves at foot sold from €1,750 to €2,380 with most teams breaking €2,000 mark while springing cows sold from €1,200 for the lighter types to €1,600 for the heavier cows.

Shipping calves sold from €60-€120 while Hereford and Angus bulls sold from €150 to €260. Hereford and Angus heifer calves sold from €100 to €220 while continental calves sold from €190 to €400.