More buyers pay higher prices

Marts: MORE buyers at the ringsides led to a surge in demand and higher prices for store cattle at the mart sales yesterday with choice bullocks selling for more than €500 over €/kg as the spring trade took off.

The biggest improvement in prices was in the Leinster region, where very strong demand pushed all prices forward at mart sales at Kilkenny and Blessington. Trade was a bit more tempered in the south, with prices similar to last week at Bandon Mart.

Prices for forward store bullocks increased by €50-€70/head in Leinster, where stores over 500kgs sold for up to €550 over and up to €520 over was paid at Kilkenny for similar weight range animals.