Champion heifer goes for €2,000

Marts: A 695kg heifer was sold for €2,000 after being judged overall champion at the Annual Fat Stock Show and Sale at Skibbereen Mart in Co Cork.

The Charolais x heifer, exhibited by Richard Stanley, Bandon, was purchased by Peter Wilson, also of Bandon, after winning the coveted top award at the show.

A Limousin x Belgian Blue heifer was judged the Butcher’s Champion. Exhibited by John Cullinane, Ballineen, and Sean Kelliher, Newcestown (jointly), it weighed 410kg and was purchased by David Wharton, Birr, Co Offaly, for €1,150.

The reserve champion at the show was a Charolais heifer shown by Albert Busteed, Bandon. She weighed 660kg and was purchased by Peter Wilson, Bandon, for €1,500.

The entry of show cattle was back on last year but the quality was exceptional, setting a challenging task for the judges to decide where the rosettes should go.

There was a smaller sale of cattle at Kanturk yesterday, where the trade was described as outstanding for the forward bullocks and heifers.

Heavy bullocks sold for up to €250 over €/kg, but that was surpassed in demand for the forward stores which fetched up to €265 over. Light stores ranged €140-€240 over. Up to €220 over was paid for heavy heifers, with medium weights ranging €100-€200 over and stores selling at €80-€175 over.

There was a strong trade for 400 head on offer at Fermoy yesterday. That very little beef was on offer indicated the supply is running out for the present. Forward stores ranged €70-€260 over with medium weights making up to €300 over and light store bullocks selling at €60-€225 over.

There is strong demand for the heavy heifers, which sold for up to €300 over. Prices ranged back to €120 over. Store heifers ranged €80-€160 over. The top price went for a Charolais weighing 520kg sold for €820. Two Belgian Blues 540kg fetched €800, and an Angus 500kg made €750.