Large opening sale at Fermoy

Marts: There was almost 1,000 cattle for the opening sale at the new Cork Marts sale centre at Rathcormac (Fermoy) yesterday. The new mart has replaced the 50-year-old mart in Fermoy town.

The new mart, which has three sales rings, and is among the most modern in Europe, also had the opening lamb sale with 650 head on offer.

Proceeds from the first two animals sold yesterday are being presented to charities.

A 366kg Charolais heifer, donated by Cork Marts, with the proceeds being presented to the third world aid organisation Bothar, sold for €1,420.

An Angus heifer weighing 364kg, donated by AIB, with the proceeds going to Cork City Hospital Children’s Club was sold for €1,000.

There was a very good sale of stock with excellent prices being paid and it was late into the evening before the auctioneers hammer fell for the sale of the last animal to go through the new ring.

A full report on the sale was not available up to time of going to press.

There was 550 weanlings on offer at Ennis yesterday where the tops continued to sell at €2.50 — €3.00/kg with a top price of over €990 being paid for a quality Belgian Blue bull weighing 430kg sold for E 1,420 and probably going for the ulcerative export market, with an equally strong price going for a Belgian Blue x weighing 445kg sold for €1,430.

A Limousin weighing 420kg made €1,280, a Belgian Blue weighing 535kg made €1,390 and a Limousin weighing 350kg sold for €1.070.

In the heifer section a Belgian Blue weighing 420kg sold for €1,180 with prices ranging €230 over to €760 over.

A Limousin weighing 425kg made €1,020, a Limousin weighing 560kg sold for €1,220 and a Charolais weighing 355kg made €1,000.

Up to €600 over was paid for the forward bullocks yesterday — two Limousin weighing 590kg sold for €1,190. — at Kanturk Mart.

The heavy bullocks ranged €200 over to € 600 over, with the medium weights making €180 over to €480 over.