Improved trade for quality bullocks

BIGGER sales of cattle met with steady or improved trading for quality bullocks and heifers, but prices for plainer lots were not maintained at the marts yesterday.

The number of cattle on offer exceeded 1,100 head at both Kilkenny and Ennis Marts, while Bandon Mart also reported a bigger sale of stock.

In summary, quality bullocks and heifers maintained at last week’s level at Kilkenny where there were fewer customer for the plain heifers. There was a quieter trade for the light stores at Bandon Mart and at Ennis Mart the quality bullocks showed gains of up to €20/head while Blessington Mart experienced a good selling trade for all types.

The heavy bullocks peaked at €340 over at Bandon where the continental breed lighter stores sold for €140 over to €220 over.

The heifer trade was also quieter with heavy heifers making €150 over to €220 over for continentals and Hereford and Angus selling for €80 over to €160 over.

There was a big sale of almost 1,200 cattle at Ennis where the trade was very good for all quality stock and an improved trade for the heavy bullocks. A top price of €1,355 was paid for two Charolais bullocks weighing 768kg. A Limousin weighing 915kg sold for €1,450, two Charolais weighing 760kg made €1,270 and a Limousin scaling 560kg sold for €960.

Up to €365 over was paid for heavy heifers for which prices ranged back to €170 over.

Prices were maintained for quality at Kilkenny Mart where up to €530 over was paid for the quality heavy bullocks. A lot of two Charolais weighing 807kg sold for €1,340, a Charolais weighing 945kg made €1,420, and a Charolais weighing 710kg sold for €1,165. Store bullocks ranged €200 over to €300 over. Up to €400 over was paid for the best of the heavy heifers and stores sold for €120 over to €220 over.

Up to €395 over was paid for heavy bullocks at Blessington where heavy heifers sold for up to €315 over.