The strong Sterling has increased the number of Northern Ireland and UK buyers around the country’s marts, and was particularly evident in Mountrath this week.

It had a special sale of E and U grade weanings on Thursday night and there was exceptional demand for heifers, according to Glenn Cooper, Mountrath Mart Manager.

He said that there was exceptional demand from UK and Northern buyers.

“We had 180 heifers on offer, 100 of these heifers were bought by two Donegal buyers for shipping to the UK,” he said.

Heifers readily made €3/kg at the Laois venue with prices for the top quality lots ranging from €3.12-3.55/kg. One 440kg heifer broke the €4/kg duct when it sold for €1,790.

The weaning bulls also met with a strong trade but failed to reach the heights of their female counterparts with lots making from €2.44-3.11/kg.

Castlerea mart had 700 animals on offer on Thursday last and Mart Manager Brendan Egan reported that the prices for continental stores remained strong.

“Anything that was a good quality continental met with an exceptional trade,” he said.

The top-quality weaning bulls and heifers met with exceptional demand. Limousin and Charolias weaning bulls made from €3.00-3.79/kg while their counterpart heifers sold from €2.99-3.55/kg.

However, Egan added that the trade for plainer cattle had slipped on previous weeks.

“There was an increased number of lesser quality stores on offer and these met with a slightly easier trade.

“The plainer type cattle are not as strong as they were a month ago. They are starting to come out as a result of the weather.”

The prices for these lots ranged from €2.00-2.72/kg.

Top quality beef and forward steers sold from €2.45-2.76/kg with the hammer falling at €1,745 for a 640kg Charolais bullock.

Forward heifers sold from €2.67-2.78/kg for the top quality lots reported Egan.

A small number of springing heifers were auctioned at the Roscommon venue and these sold from €1,000-1,400/head.

Raphoe mart also reported a strong trade on Thursday last with over 300 lots on offer.

Beef steers at the Donegal venue sold from €665-1,110 over, reported Anne Harkin, Mart Manager.

She also reported a strong trade for beef heifers with lots selling from €625-1,080.

Top class bulls over 600kg sold from €2.38-2.70/kg.

Store bullocks at the Donegal venue sold from €400 to a tops of €1,120 over while the hammer fell for store heifers from €350-900 over.

She added that cull cows ranged from €930-1,640/ head.

Carnew mart reported a strong trade on Saturday last. Mart Manager David Quinn reported that there was a strong trade for the 750 cattle on offer.

Beef and forward steers at the Wicklow venue made €750-1,150 over while beef heifers sold for €600-1,150 over.

Store steers and heifers sold from €550-950 over and €450-850 over respectively he reported.

Strong demand for weaning bulls and heifers was evident in the price paid with lots making from €450-1,000 over.

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