Saturday saw the first sale of the new year at Dowra Mart. Despite most sales being small, there was a good entry of both sheep and cattle on offer.

There was another large entry of cull cows, and these were a fairly steady trade on where they were before the Christmas break.

Heavy continental cull cows were the best trade, with good-quality fleshed cows making from €400 to €500 over the weight, with feeding cows selling from €300 to €400 over. There were a share of Friesian cull cows on offer also, and these were a relatively good trade, selling mainly from €100 to €200 over.

Bullock and heifer numbers were small, as it was the first sale of the year, but demand and prices were good for those offered for sale. The best demand again was for heavy and forward bullocks and heifers.

Those from 550kg to 650kg sold from €650 to €800 over the weight, with plainer and older types making just under €600 along with the weight.

Store bullocks and heifers were a strong and steady trade also, with good demand for all types and very few cattle went home unsold. Those around 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €550 to €700 along with the weight. Heifers in the same weight category sold mainly from €450 to €700 over.

There was a good entry of weanling bulls and heifers on offer also. Better-quality bulls from 300kg to 400kg sold from €800 to €900/head, while plainer and lighter types sold mainly from €650 to €750/head.

Heifers in the same weight and quality categories were a similar trade to the bulls.

There was a good selection of light runner calves under 250kg on offer also. There was good demand for these also, with the majority being suckler-bred.

Good-quality bulls and heifers under 200kg sold for about €500/head, with lighter types making from €450 upwards. Only thin, plain types and dairy cross calves under 200kg sold for under €400.

The sheep trade saw a slight improvement in the prices paid for in-lamb ewes, cull ewes and store lambs on the prices paid before Christmas. The majority of factory hoggets sold from €95 to €113.5.

Commission rates are €9 to the buyer and 2% to the seller.