Improved trade for store bullocks

Marts: There was an improved trade for forward store bullocks at the sales yesterday, but the prices for beef animals eased back slightly in anticipation of weaker prices at the factories over the coming weeks.

Numbers of cattle on offer continue to slip back as mart sales move towards the valley of the season for the live trade, with more farmers taking advantage of the fine weather for silagemaking.

There was a smaller sale at Bandon Mart, where there was a good trade for the bullocks on offer. The store bullocks ranged €200-€375 over €/kg for the coloured cattle while prices for Friesians ranged €100-€200 over €/kg.