Quality bullocks’ prices ease

The ‘sky high’ prices that quality bullocks were realising in recent weeks has eased slightly — still making strong prices — but the trade has quietened for the plainer and younger cattle at the mart sales. Heavy heifers are continuing to sell very well.

There are fewer of the heavy continental bullocks tipping over €500 over €/kg this week, while the quality lots are coming close, but there is a definite easing of interest in the plainer cattle — younger and lighter stores — some of which are changing hands at well below €100 over €/kg, particularly for the Friesians from high genetic dams which will not get far up the grading scale at slaughter weight.

There was another huge sale of cattle at Kilmallock where the quality heavy bullocks were just about holding at up to €460 over being paid for the tops, while the plainer cattle were back. The forward bullocks made €270 over to €365 over and lighter stores ranged €200 over to €350 over. Up to €385 over was paid for the heavy heifers and stores ranged €150 over to €350 over.

Bullocks were slightly easier, while heifers were an improved trade at Kanturk mart yesterday. The heavy bullocks made €200 over to €360 over and light stores sold at €140-€310 over. Up to €300 over was paid for the heavy heifers and lighter stores sold at €130-€225 over.

There was a very big sale at Fermoy Mart where the prices of the previous week were not maintained. The forward store bullocks sold for €100 over to €375 over and medium weights fetched €100 over to €360 over. The lighter store bullocks made €80-€370 over.

The heavy heifers sold for up to €300 over — prices ranging back to €120 for plainer lots — and store heifers sold for €100 over to €295 over.

Another big sale at Dungarvan Mart. Heavy bullocks ranged €300-€370 over, medium weights making €150-€300 over and the lighter stores selling at €150-€250 over. Heavy heifers ranged €250-€300 over and stores at €150-€200 over.