Tuesday’s special bullock show and sale at Drumshambo Mart, Co Leitrim, saw a large entry of over 250 cattle go under the hammer.

Mart manager Eoin O’Kane said there were plenty of feedlot buyers active for all types of forward and short-keep cattle, with buyers present and active from the midlands, the south and border regions. He complimented the quality of the cattle on offer and the local farmers that produced them.

In terms of the trade, the best demand was for good-quality, short-keep and factory-fit types. Those over 600kg sold mainly from €1,250 to €1,600 per head or up to over €1,000 along with the weight. There was a good number of forward store bullocks over 500kg on offer also, and these sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg, with top-quality types making as much as €750 along with the weight.

Plainer bullocks in the same weight range made from €450 to €550 along with the weight.

Over-aged stock were met with weaker demand. Where on offer, average-quality aged bullocks over 30 months old were selling for about €1.90/kg to €2.00/kg, and for up to €100/head less than an in-spec bullock of similar weight. Commission rates are €9 to the buyer and 1.9% to the seller.

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