It was a steadier trade for store cattle at Tullamore Mart on Thursday (March 4). There were close to 130 lots of bullocks, 120 lots of heifers and over 55 lots of cows in the Offaly-based mart this week.

Starting with the bullocks, the heavier lots weighing over 700kg were not as plentiful this week – these sold from €1.92/kg up to €2.26/kg.

Steers weighing between 600kg and 700kg were seeing Hereford bullocks averaging €2.02/kg. Charolais bullocks in the same weight range achieved from €2.16/kg up to a top price of €2.52/kg.

Continental store bullocks, falling into the 500-600kg category, sold from €2.05/kg up to €2.57/kg, with the majority of these selling at €2.27-2.39/kg.

Looking at the lighter store bullocks (under 500kg), the continentals were fetching prices of €2.19/kg up to €2.61/kg. Hereford bullocks sold up to €2.35/kg, while Angus lots sold up to €2.10/kg.

Turning to the heifer trade, there was a keen demand for lighter store heifers weighing under 500kg, with continental lots selling from €2.71/kg back to €2.14/kg. Hereford heifers were selling at €1.97-2.13/kg.

Heavier stores recording a weight of 500-600kg were topped at €2.67/kg for a Charolais heifer that sold for €1,380 and weighed 515kg. These continental heifers generally sold at €2.20/kg up to €2.28/kg.

Heifers over 600kg were harder to come by this week but of the ones on offer, continentals sold from €1.95/kg up to €2.29/kg.

Dry cows sold up €2.16/kg and back to €1.50/kg for the plainer types. The majority of these lots were sold at €1.65-1.83/kg.

Friesian-bred dry cows were few and far between. These females peaked at €1.52/kg and sold back to €1.07/kg.