Strong trade for heavy cattle

Marts: The heavy cattle continued in strong demand at firm prices at yesterday’s mart sales, where the lighter stores continued under some pressure particularly for the plainer lots.

Numbers of cattle at the sales are holding up well for mid-July and there is no indication of any weakening in interest in the heavier cattle.

Kilkenny and Ennis share the strongest trade yesterday, both recording up to €650 over for heavy bullocks with a top price of €600 over at Blessington.

Up to €560 over was paid for the heavy continental heifers at Ennis. They peaked at €525 over at Blessington and €520 over at Kilkenny.

Trade was similar to the previous week at Bandon where the heaviest of the bullocks ranged €245 over to €360 over and the light stores ranged €230 over to €325 over. Trade was brisk for the heavy heifers — for which up to €465 over was paid.

There was 600 head on offer at Kilkenny — smaller than last week. Beef bullocks were scarce and prices were fully maintained. The heavy bullocks ranged €350 over to €650 over — the top price being paid for a Simmental weighing 740kg sold for €1,390 — and the forward lots ranged €300 over to €470 over. Medium weights made €300 over to €400 over and the light stores ranged €170 over to €435 over. Heavy heifers sold for €350 over to €520 over and the stores made €150 over to €420 over.

At Ennis, heavy bullocks ranged €250 over to €650 over. The highest price went for a pair of Limousin bullocks weighing 683kg sold for €1,330. Two Charolais weighing 695kgs sold for €1,340, a Limousin weighing 585kg made €1,098, and three Limousin weighing 570kg made €1,040. Heavy heifers ranged €200 over to €560 over. The top price was paid for a Charolais weighing 520kg sold for €1,080. At Blessington beef bullocks ranged €420 over to €600 over and beef heifers ranged €345 over to €525 over.