The main camera at the mart was at last week’s special bullock show and sale at Baltinglass Mart. Joe Kinsella said that the trade was very strong with factory agents, butchers and farmers active for all types of stock. Despite it being early in the year, there was a strong entry of cattle on offer. Joe said that farmers are expecting the bullock show and sale and produce top quality and heavy cattle especially for that sale.

With agents active for good-quality heavy types, this put a good floor under prices of factory-fit and short-keep stock. Even where overage stock was on offer or those who would slaughter overweight, there was no real price penalty, with agents paying prices as good for over-age cattle as they did for those ticking all the boxes.

In terms of prices, good-quality types over 700kg made up to €1,100 along with the weight. The top-priced bullock was an October 2014-born Limousin weighing 810kg that made €1,900 or €2.35/kg.

Other good heavy types in that weight range sold for €1,700 upwards, while plainer heavy bullocks made around €700 along with the weight, while prices in the main for good-quality heavy bullocks averaged from €600 to €700 over the weight. Some fancy prizewinning bullocks around 600kg sold for up to €760 along with the weight.

Farmers were said to be quite active for good-quality store bullocks, with some feeders said to be quite active for good-quality store bullocks also. Those over 600kg sold mainly from €1.90/kg to €2.10/kg.

Some good-quality forward Hereford store bullocks made from €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg, while plainer types sold from €1.88/kg upwards. Again, feeder and farmer demand saw some competition for these.

Store bullocks from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg, with top-quality lots making as much as €2.30/kg to over €2.40/kg.

A number of good-quality Charolais-cross bullocks around 400kg to 450kg sold for over €1,000/head or about €600 over the weight. Farmers were the main buyers of these lighter store cattle and were said to be quite active.

Although it was a special sale, prices overall were well up on where they were at the end of 2016. Commission rates are 1.7% to the seller and €10 to the buyer.

Farmers and feeders active in Baltinglass

Last Wednesday's special show and sale at Baltinglass Mart saw a strong entry of good-quality forward stores on offer, which was met with a lively trade.