Livelier trade at the marts

Marts: There was a livelier trade for bullocks and heifers at mart sales yesterday where there was a bigger attendance of customers for the small entries of stock on offer.

The number of cattle on offer at the sales has reached the lowest for the year in common with the usual August pattern. Some farmers are taking advantage of the good weather for a holiday break and harvesting is well under way in other areas.

There was a steady trade at Bandon Mart for quality stores but the plainer stock saw a quiet trade. Heavy store bullocks ranged €60-€270 over. Light stores sold at €45-€225 over. Three Herefords 518kg sold at €715; seven Herefords 492kg made €710; a Limousin 475kg made €740; six Friesians 482kg sold for €545; six Angus 430kg sold for €570, and three Limousin 383kg made €545.

Beef heifers ranged €130-€190 over and stores made €90-€205 over €/kg. A Hereford 540kg sold for €730; an Angus 505kg made €705, and a Limousin 480kg sold for €645.

There was a small entry of 300 head at Kilkenny Mart where the trade was livelier for heifers and bullocks with more customers especially for the quality lots. Heavy bullocks ranged €220-€320 over; medium weight range bullocks ranging €170-€300 over, and light stores sold at €150-€300 over.

A lot of two Simmentals 688kg sold for €950; two Limousin 605kg for €925; two Charolais 530kg €835, and two Friesians 451kg €665. Prices for beef heifers ranged €180-€340 over and stores sold for €140-€190 over. A Charolais 674kg sold for €1,000, a Charolais 582kg made €910, two Simmentals 482kg sold for €635, and a Belgian Blue 372kg made €560.

Bullock prices were improved by €15-€30/head at a small sale of cattle at Blessington Mart. Up to €260 over was paid for forward store bullocks, lighter lots peaking at €235 over. Beef heifers ranged €190-€285 over.