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.

Trade at Kilkenny was described as “fast selling with a lot of customers for both bullocks and heifers” and “an excellent trade for cull cows.”

A lot of four Charolais bullocks weighing 546kgs sold for €1,065, another lot of three Charolais weighing 543kgs made €990 and in the heavier weight range a 662kgs Angus sold for €1,090, a lot of two Charolais weighing 760kgs sold for €1,260, and another lot of two Charolais scaling 661kgs made €1,055, while a lot of two Friesians 718kgs sold for €1,080. Heavy heifers fetched up to €350 over and up to €325 over was paid for stores.

At Blessington store bullocks over 500kgs ranged €350-€550 over, and choice prices were paid for fancy beef bullocks and heifers.

Store bullocks over 400kgs sold at €300-€430 over. Store heifers ranged €230-€300 over.

At Bandon Mart heavy bullocks ranged €170-€260 over and lighter stores ranged €200-€310 over. The best of the continental beef heifers ranged up to €245 over €/kg, and Angus and Herefords sold at €140-€180 over.

The increase in the numbers of cattle on offer at the mart sales has levelled off with supplies at yesterday’s sales similar to last week at most of the centres.