High prices paid for heavy bullocks

Marts: The number of cattle on offer rose at all centres, with demand robust for the quality lots, but the plainer cattle were a tougher trade at yesterday’s mart sales.

Some of the high prices being paid for the heavy bullocks were described as ‘unbelievable’ by farmers as prices stretched to €575 over €/kg for top quality Continentals.

Blessington Mart recorded an increase of up to €30/head for the quality forward bullocks, quality lots were steady at unchanged prices at Bandon, Kilkenny and Ennis, but overall there was less enthusiasm for the plainer cattle among the buyers and they faced a tougher trade with prices eased by up to €20/head.