Numbers stable at mart sales

Marts: Numbers of cattle on offer were stable at the marts where the trade varied from steady to easier at yesterday’s sales.

Bandon mart experienced an easier trade than last week with a similar number of cattle on offer.

Blessington Mart had a steady trade for similar numbers to a week ago and at Kilkenny Mart it was a nostalgic day as the auctioneer George Chandler’s hammer came down on the last lot of cattle to be sold at the centre after more than 50 years.

At the end of 51 years selling at Barrack Street, the first cattle sale at a new €12m mart at Cillin Hill, one mile from the town on the Carlow road, will be held next Thursday.

Congratulations to chairman Michael Parsons and manager Michael Lynch on the development of the new mart which has been described as the most modern in Europe.

By coincidence the last sale at the old mart also recorded an exceptional price of €606 over €/kg for a Charolais bullock. The bullocks weighing 694kg sold for €1,300.

At Bandon, the heavy bullocks ranged €150 over to €250 over, lighter stores selling at €160 over to €300 over for continentals and from €40 upwards for the Friesians.

There was an improved trade for quality heifers which sold for up to €300 over for the tops.

In the general run of the trade at Kilkenny the heavy bullocks ranged €250 over to €390 over. The forward bullocks ranged €180 over to €380 over, mediums weights ranging up to €290 over and light stores making €180 over to €300 over.

Best trade for heifers was for the forward heifers which sold for €180 over to €330 over, in weaker trading for the heavy heifers selling at €160 over to €240 over. Light stores ranged €180 over to €250 over.

Up to €365 over was paid for the heavy bullocks at Blessington Mart and light stores sold for €175 over to €255 over. The heavy heifers ranged €225 over to €330 over and light store heifers made €125 over to €190 over.