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22 February 2017

Nathan Tuffy on 22 Feb 2017

Grass buyers stoking cattle prices in recent weeks at Enniscorthy mart

Enniscorthy Mart assistant manager Kevin MurphyThere was an entry of well over 340 head of cattle on offer which were met with an improved trade in the past few weeks.

Nathan Tuffy

22 February 2017

Grass buyers stoking cattle prices in recent weeks at Enniscorthy mart

This Charolais-cross heifer, born April 2015 and weighing 560kg, sold for €1,180 (€2.11/kg).

This Charolais-cross bullock, born April 2015 and weighing 580kg, sold for €1,370 (€2.36/kg).

This Belgian Blue-cross heifer, born March 2015 and weighing 580kg, sold for €1,170 (€2.02/kg).

This pen of Angus-cross bullocks, born February 2015 and weighing 415kg, sold for €820 each (€1.98/kg).

This Charolais-cross heifer, born March 2014 and weighing 570kg, sold for €1,100 (€1.93/kg).

This pair of Limousin-cross bullocks, born August 2014 and weighing 518kg, sold for €1,150 (€2.22/kg).

This Limousin-cross heifer, born October 2014 and weighing 440kg, sold for €980 (€2.23/kg).

This pair of Charolais-cross heifers, born April/May 2015 and weighing 500kg on average, sold for €1,190 each.

This Charolais-cross heifer, born March 2015 and weighing 560kg, sold for €1,265 (€2.26/kg).

This Charolais-cross bullock, born March 2015 and weighing 650kg, sold for €1,445 (€2.22/kg).

This Belgian Blue-cross heifer, born March 2015 and weighing 580kg, sold for €1,205 (€2.08/kg).

This pair of Limousin bullocks, born March/April 2015 and weighing 480kg on average, sold for €1,110 (€2.31/kg).

There was a small number of light weanling bull calves on offer, mainly dairy-crosses under 300kg. These sold mainly from €1.75/kg to €2.00/kg for better-quality types, while light continental bulls sold up to €2.50/kg. Weanling bulls from 300kg to 400kg were met with good farmer demand also. Again, those with dairy influence sold mainly from €1.85/kg to €2.10/kg, with prices ranging mainly from €400 to €600 along with the weight.

Weanling bulls from 300kg to 400kg were met with good farmer demand also. Again, those with dairy influence sold mainly from €1.85/kg to €2.10/kg, with prices ranging mainly from €400 to €600 along with the weight.

Top-quality continental bulls sold at the higher end of prices, with a 355kg Charolais-cross bull making €990. Bullocks from 400kg to 500kg sold for about €500 over the weight for average-quality types.

There were some Friesians on offer which made from €200 to €300 along with the weight, while better-quality continental types sold from €500 to €600 along with the weight or from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg for good quality.

Heavier bullocks over 500kg were met with strong demand and sold mainly from €2.05/kg to €2.36/kg for continental types. This translated into €530 to €600 along with the weight. For exceptional types, prices of up to €710 along with the weight were paid.

Heavy types over 600kg were met with strong feeder activity and sold from €600 to €800 along with the weight for continental types and from €400 to €630 over for fleshed short-keep Friesians. Age was having an impact, with overage continentals making around €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg.

The heifer trade was quite strong, again with plenty of buyer activity for all younger types. Light heifers over 300kg sold mainly from €260 to €340 over the weight for dairy crosses and from €400 to €520 over for better-quality continentals.

Those from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €450 to €600 over the weight for continentals and from €350 to €450 for Angus-crosses.

Friesian cull cows sold mainly from €200 to €300 over the weight, while continental feeding cows sold from €1.60/kg to €1.80/kg. Commission rates are €9 to the seller and 1.25% to 1.5% to the buyer.

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Friesian bull calf prices ease slightly as numbers jump

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