Sales of cattle dip to lowest of year

Marts: Cattle sales were among the lowest of the year at the livestock marts yesterday where the trade for heavy animals was maintained and stores were a difficult trade.

With many livestock farmers taking a holiday break and the Galway races a big attraction for farming families, the effect on the marts’ sales was evident with small entries of stock on offer and the ringsides showing an absence of farmer buyers.

The heavy cattle were a good trade with prices being maintained, but demand for plain light stores was weak and many lots were difficult to sell, even at lower prices.

There was low sales at Bandon Mart but the trade was maintained at last week’s level for the heavy animals which ranged between €100 and €260. The lighter stores ranged €100-€200 over.

Two Simmentals 600 kg's sold for €795, three Herefords 590 kg's made €795, three Angus 571 kg's sold for €720, and two Friesian 400 kg's selling for €485.

In the heifer section, heavy heifers sold at up to €145 over and stores made up to €140 over.

There was a small entry of 300 head at Kilkenny where the heavy cattle were a good trade but stores hard to sell. The heavy bullocks ranged between €240 — €340 with medium weight stores selling from €130 to €300 over. A Limousin 672 kg's sold for €1,030, two Hereford cross sold for €1,120, two Charolais 530 kg's selling for €850, three Simmentals 503 kg's making €700 and three Blues 380 kg's selling for €650. Beef heifers ranged €270 — €320 over.

There was just 200 cattle on offer at Ennis — smallest sale of the year. Trade was steady for the quality stock. The heavy bullocks sold at €200 — €480 over, the lighter animals peaking around €300.