Last Saturday’s sale at Sixmilebridge Mart saw a special entry of good-quality suckler cows with calves at foot rise to meet a brisk trade.

The best-quality cows sold from €1,820 to €2,320 at the top of the market, while average-quality types sold mainly from €1,650 to €1,820. Older and plainer cows with poorer-quality calves at foot sold for around €1,500.

Cull cows continue to be a strong trade also. Friesian culls carrying little flesh are selling mainly from €150 to €250 along with the weight, while better-quality types sold from €290 to €320 along with the weight.

Continental cull cows sold from €1.70/kg to €1.80/kg, with top-quality types making from €1.85/kg to €2.00/kg. Younger top-quality Limousin cows around 600kg to 650kg sold from €2.00/kg to €2.27/kg.

The cattle sale saw store heifers sell mainly from €550 to €600 along with the weight, with top-quality types making up to €740 along with the weight.

Heavy heifers over 500kg sold mainly from €600 to €800 over, with a top price of €910 over the weight being achieved for a 620kg Charolais.

Light store bullocks under 500kg sold from €400 to €530 over, while heavy bullocks sold from €640 to €960 over.

The trade for weanlings was firm, but there were slightly more plainer types on offer.

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Cattle prices: increased supply of plainer cattle on offer at marts