Mart prices: buoyant trade in both Roscrea rings

All but 3% of the 400-plus cattle entered were sold at Friday’s general sale in Roscrea Mart. The bullock ring and the heifer and dry cow ring were positive, matching the overall brisk start to the cattle trade in 2020.

Bullocks

From 400kg to 500kg, bullocks averaged €2.23/kg for the sale. By breed, in the absences of any Friesians, dairy-beef breeds ranged from €1.80/kg to €2.15/kg and continentals started at a strong €2.25/kg up to a high of €2.67/kg.

Highest price here went to a pair of 22-month-old Limousin-crosses averaging 455kg and these sold for €1,165/head.

Forward 500kg to 600kg stores averaged €2.12/kg. Again, there was next to no Friesians, so dairy-beef lots ranged from €1.80/kg to €2.05/kg, while continentals started at €2.05/kg and topped at €2.45/kg.

Heavy 600kg-plus bullocks averaged €2.05/kg for the sale and R+ grades and above made upwards of €2.20/kg. Highest-priced bullock on the day sold for €1,755 and this was a 36-month-old Limousin-cross weighing 880kg.

Store heifers

Lighter store heifers weighing 400kg to 500kg sold to an average price of €2.19/kg. It was mainly continentals in this category. These started at €1.89/kg and went to a top price of €2.47/kg. The good-quality heifer was making €2.30/kg constantly.

Forward heifers from 500kg to 600kg sold to an average of €2.18/kg and the category was again dominated by continental breeds. A handful of Hereford heifers ranged from €1.90/kg to €2.00/kg. Continentals went from €2.00/kg to €2.30/kg, with €2.20/kg a good benchmark for quality lots.

Dry cows

The dry cows on offer were mainly Friesians. Plain cows only made €1.00/kg to €1.10/kg, while better-fleshed cows moved up to secure €150 and even up €300 with the weight for fleshed and good square cows.

A selection of continental cows sold for between €1,050 and €1,350.

Analysis for this report was generated from the MartBids app. MartBids is a collaboration between the Irish Farmers Journal and livestock marts. The app is available for download on iPhone or Android on the App Store or Google Play. With this app, all of the information that is displayed on the mart board is now available on your smartphone, long before the animal enters the sales ring.