Cattle prices remain steady

Marts: Prices were maintained for most categories of stock at yesterday’s sales, the exception being the plainer store bullocks for which demand was a little quieter and prices tended a shade easier than last week.

The number of cattle on offer remained steady at similar size sales to last week, and demand remained very strong for the heavy stock with prices fully maintained and quality lots selling up to €700 over for the choice continentals.

At Bandon mart the heavy and forward bullocks sold for up to €380 over, with the medium weight continental stores ranging from €250 over to €420 over. The heifer trade was equally good with the heavy continentals ranging up to €340 over. Hereford and Angus stores made E 200 over to €260 over. An Angus dry cow weighing 860kg sold for €1,225 in excellent trading for the dry cows.

There was an excellent all round trade at Kilkenny for the heavy bullocks and heifers, but the plainer stores were back €10-15/head. A top price of €1,460 was paid for a Charolais bullock weighing 790kg — a whopping €790 over — while the general run for heavy bullocks ranged €330 over to €670 over. Forward lots sold for €320 over to €520 over; lighter stores made €250 over to €420 over.

Beef heifers made up to €490 over for the top of the continentals. Forward lots sold for €250 over to €320 over and the store heifers made €330 over to €400 over.

There was a flying trade for the dry cows with a top price of €1,330 paid for a 830kg continental. Prices ranged from €80 over for Friesians to €500 over for heavy continentals.

There was a very strong trade at Blessington for all stock with heavy beef bullocks selling for up to €550 over. The forward lots made €360 over to €505 over and the lighter stores sold for €290 over to €350 over. 490 over was paid for the best of the heavy continental heifers. Forward heifers ranged €280 over to €440 over and lighter stores made €250 over to €365 over.