Prices improve for forward bullocks

Marts: Beef and forward bullocks and heifers met with a very strong trade with price improvement of up to €70/head paid at mart sales yesterday.

Numbers of cattle on offer were up and with more activity by Northern Ireland buyers, brisk trading was reported for the near finished to beef bullocks and heifers.

There was 500 head on offer at Bandon Mart where prices for the quality bullocks were improved by €50 — €70/head. Plainer cattle and Friesian type animals made gains of €40 — €50/head. The heavy bullocks made up to €350 over €/kg. A lot of three Charolais 641kg sold for €995, a Charolais 725kg sold for €1,035, and four Friesians 453kg made €585. Forward heifers ranged €110 — €210 over.

There was 1,100 cattle at Ennis Mart where all round improvements of up to €30/head were achieved and a good deal of Northern buyers around the ringside. The heavy bullocks sold for up to €660 over with prices ranging from €200 over for the plainer types. A Limousin bullock weighing 748kg topped the trade at €1,410, a lot of four Limousin scaling 674kg sold for €1,100 and a Charolais 778kg made €1,245. Up to €440 over was paid for forward heifers for which prices ranged back to e180 over for lighter and plainer animals. A Limousin 508kg sold for €880, and a Charolais 454kg made €820.

Bullock and heifer prices were improved by up to €40/head at Kilkenny mart where there was 1,100 head on offer yesterday. Trade was described as very strong but particularly for the beef or near finished cattle which were in very strong demand at up to €520 over. A top price of €620 over was paid for beef heifers and up to €265 over the good continental dry cows.