Quiet tone to cattle trade

Marts: A pen of five lambs weighing 52kg were sold for €102/head after winning the overall championship at the Annual Sheep Fat Stock Show and Sale at Bandon Mart yesterday.

The lambs were exhibited by Anne Marie Horgan, Templemartin and bought by Paddy Hegarty, Schull at the sale which followed judging at the mart, at which there was a very good trade for lambs.

Prices for lambs ranged €25 — €40 over for the general run of the lambs at the sale. The reserve championship was awarded to a pen of five lambs weighing 47kg and sold for €95/head. Another lot of five weighing 50kg sold for €77 and a lot of five weighing 49kg sold for €89/head.

There was a quieter tone to the cattle trade at yesterday’s sale for both bullocks and heifers. The heavy bullocks ranged €150 — €210 over, lighter lots making €120 — €230 over and Friesians selling at €40 — €130 over. The best of the continental heifers made up to €210 over, with heavy heifers in general selling at €100 — €150 and Hereford and Angus making €70 — €120 over.

The quality bullocks continued a firm trade at Kilkenny Mart where there was an entry of 600 head for yesterday’s sale, but the plain and light bullocks were back by up to €20/head. The heifer trade was steady for beef and forward animals but back at least €10/head for the plain stores.

Up to €430 over was paid for the tops of the beef bullocks, with prices ranging back to €180 over, medium weight range store bullocks made up to €340 over and the light stores peaked at €280 over. Two Charolais bullocks 768kg sold for €1,200, a Charolais 700kg made €1,133, four Friesians 790kg made €1,170, two Charolais 583kg sold for €960.

Up to €390 over was paid for the best of the beef heifers — prices ranging back to €210 over — and store heifers ranged €120 — €250 over. A Simmental 766kg made €1,150, and two Limousin 573kg sold for €880.