Fancy prices for continentals

Marts: Producer confidence in beef is driving trade for the heavy beef animals to record heights as they edge up and up, as a result of competition and tight supplies on offer at the live sales.

Prices hit a new peak at Ennis Mart yesterday where 927 over was paid for quality continental bullocks and the forward lots sold for up to €600 over with plenty of farmers in attendance for all types of stores.

There was a bigger sale at Bandon Mart where the trade for bullocks continued very strong.

The heavy bullocks ranged 240 over to 460 over and the lighter lots ranged 220 over to 340 over.

The top price was paid for a lot of four Charolais weighing 592kg which sold for 1,055. Two Herefords weighing 732kg sold for €1,160, three Herefords weighing 558kg made €975, five Simmentals weighing 421 kg sold for €725 and a lot of seven Angus weighing 480kg sold for 865.

The heavy heifers sold for up to 360 over and Hereford and Angus stores made 200 over to 270 over.

There was just short of 1,000 head on offer where some fancy prices were paid for quality lots of continentals.

The top price went for a pair of Limousin bullocks weighing 823kg which sold for 1,750.

A Charolais weighing 795kg made 1,660, a Limousin weighing 595kg made 1,210, two Charolais weighing 528kg sold for €1,135, and a Limousin weighing 830kg sold for 1,640. The heifers ranged €220 over to €485 over.

A Belgian Blue x weighing 650kg sold for €1,135, a Limousin weighing 710kg sold for €1,120, and a Limousin weighing 580kg made €1,070.

Up to €585 over was paid for the heavy bullocks at Blessington Mart. Forward lots ranged €375 over to €540 over. The lighter stores ranged €320 over to €455 over.

The heavy heifers ranged €350 over to €495 over, forward lots making €280 over to €350 over and the light stores ranged €250 over to €335 over.