Live trade continues strong

The strong trade for the quality bullocks was maintained yesterday, while demand for plainer lots was mixed depending on location, and heifers sold well at mart sales.

Cattle numbers on offer at the sales have slipped back from the peak of recent weeks but are still sizeable.

There was a good sale at Bandon Mart where trade was improved particularly for the plainer Friesian cattle with buyers for these lots more in evidence. The heavy bullocks sold for up to €300 over /kg, with prices ranging back to €170 over for plain lots. Lighter stores made €150-€250 over and the Friesian-type animals ranged 100-185 over. A Limousin 580kg sold for €880, a lot of four Angus 510kg made €710, six Friesians 530kg sold for €685, four Herefords 496kg made €745 and Simmental 410kgs fetched €665.

Heifers made €140-€230 over. A Limousin 425kg sold for €650; a Charolais 445kg made €685, an Angus 450kg fetched 600, and a lot of four Simmentals 372kgs sold at €540.

There were over 1,200 head on offer at Kilkenny where the quality bullocks sold for more than €400 over, but the plainer animals were back €20/head.

Heavy beef bullocks ranged €300-€440 over; medium weight ranges making €220-€400 over and lighter stores selling at €180-€380 over. A Charolais 728kg sold for €1,179, three Charolais 616kg fetched €1,020, a Charolais 672kg sold at €1,110, A Simmental 550kg made €825, and a Charolais 406kg fetched €705.

Beef heifers ranged €180-€320 over and stores made €140-€300 over. Five Limousin 566kg sold at €875, two Charolais 549kg made €860, a Belgian Blue 460kg sold at €730, and a lot of three Limousin 395kg made €695.