Demand for cattle still very strong
Numbers of cattle on offer at the marts are increasing, but demand is outstripping supply, and the competition has seen an improvement of up to €20/head.
Ennis mart set the record for the week with over €500 more than €/kg being paid for the heavy single-punched bullocks.
The top price was €1,100 for a 544kg Charolais bullock with one premium at the sale of 500 cattle where prices for all types were improved on the previous week.
With the top prices going for the heavy single- punched continental bullocks, the general run of prices for single- punched ranged €320 to €410 over e/kg for the continentals and €200-€270 for Friesian and Hereford lots.
There was also a very good trade for the heavy punched-out continental bullocks selling from €270 over to €320 over and plainer lots making €160 over to €230 over. The heavy heifers made €180-€230 over e/kg.
Numbers were similar to last week at Bandon where the single-punched continental bullocks made up to e400 over.
Prices were up €15-€20/head at Kilkenny. The tops of the heavy single-punched continental bullocks sold for up to €467 over a lot of 10 quality Charolais weighing 523kg selling for €990 and a pair of Charolais 541kg making €1,000 while the lighter animals, under 300kg, with a premium sold for up to €300 over.
There was a smaller sale at Athenry Mart where €455 over was paid for a 380kg Belgian Blue single- punched bullock which went for €835.
The single-punched bullocks topped at €373 over at Skibbereen, €380 over at Fermoy and €400 over at Blessington marts.
