Quality bullocks see prices surge

Marts: Despite the weather, there was a touch of spring buying mood around the ringsides at the mart sales for the quality bullocks and a roaring trade for the top class beef heifer yesterday.

Up to €480 over €/kg was paid for the tops of the forward continental bullocks and prices for quality beef heifer were improved by more than €100/head.

There was a bigger turnout of cattle at all of the sales as they build up to the spring peak, and plenty of buyers anxious for quality cattle with somewhat less enthusiasm for plainer stock.

There was a major increase in the number of cattle on offer at Bandon Mart, where the bullocks were a fine trade with improvements of up to €30/head. Heavy bullocks ranged €220 over to €370 over with lighter lots selling at €180-€260 over.

There was 1,000 head on offer at Kilkenny - the biggest sale of 2006 - and a bumper trade for quality beef heifers with up to €500 over being paid for the tops.

Prices were well maintained or slightly improved at Blessington Mart where up to €480 over was paid for heavy beef bullocks with stores ranging €280-€370 over.