Quality stores maintain good prices
An increase in the numbers at the sales, may be due to a scarcity of grass on some farms after the prolonged drought which has impacted severely on growth on the lighter soil types.
While the quality cattle continued a very strong trade in the marts yesterday, the plainer cattle bullocks and heifers were easier by €10-€20/head in quieter demand for the larger numbers at the sales.
The near-finished double-punched bullocks continue to sell very well, making up to €515 over €/kg at Athenry Mart for quality lots in the 600-700kg range. Lighter animals without a premia sold back to €220 over.
At Kanturk Mart the 500-600kg double-punched bullocks made up to €260 over with lighter weights without a premia left peaking at €250 over.
Up to €610 over €/kg was paid for the tops of the continental single- punched bullocks at Athenry plainer lots selling back to €280 over. At Kanturk up to €345 over was paid for the single-punched 400-500 kg bullocks.
There was also an increase in numbers at Kilmallock Mart where the double-punched made up to €420 over and the forward-single punched sold for up to €470 over.
There was also an increase in Dungarvan Mart where the forward single-punched bullocks made up to €450 over with prices holding firm for most types of cattle.
The quality heavy heifers made up to €365 over €/kg at Athenry, with plainer lots and lighter weights selling back to €180 over.
At Kanturk up to €235 over was paid for the best of the heifers with prices ranging back to €180 over, while butcher's heifers made up to €350 over at Fermoy yesterday and stores up to €230 over.
