Prices ease for plain stores

Marts: Prices for plain store cattle were a shade easier, but the level of demand and the prices for the quality stock remained firm at yesterday's sales.

The majority of the quality bullocks are selling for €300 to €400 over € per/kg which is reckoned to be slightly lower than this time last year particularly for some of the very fancy store cattle which sold for excessive prices last Spring. Plain bullocks are selling back to €120 over in quieter trading.

Throughput at the mart sales for the first two months has been the highest for years with a steady increase in entries over recent weeks as the trade builds up to the seasonal high later this month. There is no shortage of buyers at the ringside and no indications so far of concerns as to the uncertain elements of the trade later in the year, in particular the gamble on whether South American supplies will continue to be restricted from the European markets for the remainder of the year, or get clearance late summer or early autumn.

Best returns at yesterday's sales were for an offering of over 1,000 weanlings at Ennis where quality bulls and heifers were an excellent trade. Up to €410 over was paid for the tops of the bulls, a 420kg Limousin sold for €830, but several lots 300-400kgs ranged €350 to over €400.

Plainer lots sold back to €180 over. The top price for heifers went for a red Limousin weighing 482kgs and sold for €850.

Prices ranged €150 to €368 over.

At Kanturk forward store bullocks sold up to €260 over, lighter lots peaking at €230 over. A top of €270 over was paid for heavy heifers with stores making €120 to €165 over.

Medium weight bullocks made up to €395 over at Kilmallock where there was an excellent trade although bullock numbers are still on the low side for this centre. Beef heifers made up to €295 over and stores ranged €90 to €250 over.