Cattle prices dulled by weaker trade

Marts: Cattle prices lacked the recent sparkle at the sales yesterday, where the trade was quieter than last week, with smaller numbers on offer.

Beef animals were scarce and forward stores were firm but the lighter animals met with weaker demand, and prices eased back.

Heifer numbers were lower at Bandon Mart, where trade remained firm for forward store bullocks, but light and plain cattle were a harder sell.

The heavy bullocks ranged €220-€330 over €/kg, with the lighter stores ranging €170-€320 over and plain Friesians selling back to €60 over.

A lot of six Belgian Blues 548 kgs made €875, four Herefords 513 kgs sold for €840, four Friesian 547 kgs made €775, and three Simmentals 421 kgs made €765. Last week’s prices for heifers were not matched at yesterday’s sale, where the best continentals made up to €285 over and the stores ranged €110-€220 over. An Angus 505 kgs sold for €725, four Charolais 372 kgs sold for €655, two Limousin 375 kgs made €570, and a Hereford weighing 260 kgs sold for €400.

There was a smaller entry of 900 head at Kilkenny Mart where beef animals were in short supply. Forward bullocks ranged €260-€450 over, medium weights ranging €220-€400 over. Beef heifers made €260-€470 over and stores sold at €200-€340 over.

There was almost 1,000 head on offer at Ennis Mart where the trade for cull cows was described as “super”, quality bullocks were a firm trade, plainer lots back up €15/head and similar for heifers.

Bullocks ranged €160 over to €660 over — a 772-kgs Charolais selling at €1,430 — heifers ranging €180-€540 over, top price of €1,180 paid for a 646-kgs Simmental — and cows making €80-€560 over.