Strong demand for bullocks at sales

Marts: There was good demand for factory type and store bullocks - mostly at unchanged prices - while heifers showed gains of up to €10/head at yesterday’s mart sales.

Supplies of cattle were increased at some centres and slightly lower at other locations, with all marts reporting strong demand at steady or slightly stronger prices.

Best trade was reported at Blessington Mart, where beef bullocks made up to €400 over €/kg and up to €350 over was paid for forward store bullocks.

A bigger sale of cattle met with a steady trade at Bandon Mart, where some Friesian bullocks fetched top prices. Three Friesian bullocks weighing 623kgs sold for €855, while two Friesians at 552kgs sold for €770. A Simmental 540kgs made €755 and two Limousins weighing 440kgs sold for €690.

There was a very good trade for heifers, with the tops making up to €270 over €/kg - a lot of three 575kgs Limousins sold for €845.

Kilkenny Mart had an entry of just under 500 head which met lively trade. Heifer prices rose by up to €10/head.

Bullocks over 500kgs ranged from €150 over to €360 over €/kg with the Friesian animals at the lower end of the scale. Three 573kgs Limousins sold for €925, two 550kgs Charolais made €880, and four 490kgs Charolais sold for €825.

Bullocks under 400 kgs ranged €100-€300 over. Two 281kgs Friesian sold for €385, two 378kgs Limousins made €680, and a 394kgs Hereford x sold for €660. Butcher’s heifers ranged €150 to €270 over and stores sold at €150 to €260 over. Cull cows continued a good trade selling from €90 under €/kg to €220 over. A 578kgs Friesian cow sold for €795.