Weaker trade at marts for plain lots

Marts: There was a weaker trade for plain cattle at the marts yesterday where prices for some lots of plain bullocks were back €30-€50/head on two weeks ago and have become harder to sell.

Prices were maintained for the quality for which there is strong demand. Numbers of cattle on offer have begun to slip back from the seasonal peak.

There were more plain cattle on offer at some of yesterday’s sales which may have contributed to the downward pressure on prices, but the trend all season has been for the brunt of any easing in the trade to hit the plain animals first and heaviest.

There was a smaller sale of bullocks at Bandon, where there was demand for quality lots but plainer lots were a harder sell. Heavy bullocks ranged €140-€210 over €/kg, light stores made €120-200 over and Friesians sold from €10 over to €120 over for the better frame animals. Heifer trade was steady. Best continentals made €165 over and Hereford and Angus sold at €60-€120 over. Two Simmentals 505kg sold for €700, five Herefords 544kg made €745, two Angus 475kg made €650, and seven Friesians 484kg sold for €605.

There were 1,000 head on offer at Kilkenny and while prices were maintained for quality animals there was an increase in the plain cattle on offer which proved harder to sell.

The heavy bullocks ranged €60-€290 over and medium weight stores sold at €70-€270 over. Two Charolais 600kg sold for €645, two Belgian Blues 650kg made €920, a Simmental 702kg sold for €995, and three Friesians 644kg made €700. In the lighter animals two Charolais 360kg made €500 and three Herefords 387kg sold for €520.

Beef and store heifers ranged €100-€250. Three Charolais 362 kgs made €480 and four Simmentals 455 kgs sold for €710.