Store cattle prices finish strongly
The improvement of 10-20/head in store cattle prices earlier in the week was fully maintained at the sales. There was a big increase in bullocks on offer at Bandon, where the second-last cattle sale of 2003 was held. In firm trading, heavy punched out bullocks sold for up to 205 over /kg and the forward single punched made up to 315 over with lighter single punched topping at 300 over.
A lot of two single punched 495 kg Herefords sold for 805, five single punched Herefords weighing 457 kg also made 805 and nine Charolais scaling 396 kg sold for 700.
Heifers were not as plentiful as last week, but the prices were improved by 20/head. The beef and butchers heifers sold for up to 150 over and stores made up to 185 over.
There was an improvement of up to 15/head in medium weight single punched bullocks at Kilkenny Mart, where 925 head were on offer and store heifers were dearer by 10/head.
Demand was very strong for the heavy single punched bullocks.
Three Charolais 538 kgs sold for 950, four Limousin weighing 511 kgs sold for 900 and three Simmentals 516 kgs made 870.
Beef heifers sold for up to 255 over four Belgian Blues 500 kgs selling for 755 and a Simmental 576 kgs made 805.
There was 800 cattle on offer at Ennis Mart, where all types of cattle were dearer than last week. Probably the highest price in the country yesterday up to 300 over /kg was paid for the heavy punched out Continental bullocks.
