Cattle trade at Blessington Mart has eased compared to the exceptional highs seen this time last year, but demand for quality stock remains strong, according to auctioneer Tom Doyle.

Speaking to Agriland at the mart in Co. Wicklow, Doyle said that while prices have come back from last year's levels, there is still plenty of appetite among buyers for good cattle.

The auctioneer described 2025 as a standout year for cattle prices and he noted that comparisons with the current trade need to be viewed in that context.

He said: "Trade is certainly back on this time last year; 2025 was a real dinger of a year in a way, but it's steady enough for cattle now."

While cattle prices have eased, Doyle outlined that sheep trade remains particularly buoyant, stating that it is "very good at the moment".

Looking ahead to the second half of the year, Doyle reckoned that the cattle trade will continue to stabilise.

"For cattle, I think we've reached the floor in a way and it's steadying up now.

"There's a lot of cattle here today hitting over €4.50-€4.70/kg," he estimated.

The auctioneer recognised that there is a strong demand for "good continental cattle" currently.

New TB rules

The introduction of the new TB movement restrictions at marts has been one of the most significant changes facing mart managers and farmers in recent months.

However, Doyle said that the measures have had little effect on trade activity at Blessington Mart to date.

"Certainly with us, the main buyers for cows would be controlled feedlots, so the restrictions didn't really make a difference," he outlined.

The auctioneer acknowledged that many farmers are still trying to get their bearings with how the rules apply to them.

"The rules are very hard to understand in some ways, and farmers are still coming up to us to trying to figure out what's what," he said.

Although, he recognised that there is "a little bit more clarity" on the restrictions since they were introduced in April.

Eradication

While the new regulations may not have had "much effect" on sales, Doyle said that farmers in and around the Blessington area continue to struggle with TB itself.

"Farmers are finding it hard to cope with TB in general, especially in this are where it has been quite prevalent in the last few months.

"There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of movement towards the eradication of TB.

"If they don't deal with the wildlife, nothing is going to happen," he claimed.