Castlerea Mart in Co Roscommon had a good entry of 91 dry cows at last Thursday’s sale. There was a sharper atmosphere around the ring, with interest from Northern buyers also adding extra competition to the trade.
Analysis of MartBids prices shows the top third of cows averaging €1.81/kg. This includes a selection of U grading cows, which ranged in price from €1.85/kg to €1.95/kg.
Strong demand for lighter cows
Many of these were lighter cows weighing in the region of 650kg to 700kg, with manager Brendan Egan reporting that these type of cows are meeting the strongest demand in recent months.
The top price of €1,720 was paid for a young 2017-born Charolais-cross cow which crossed the scales at 920kg.
The average price was recorded at €1.60/kg, with this including O grading beef-cross cows and fresh feeding cows fit to do a quick thrive.
Plainer-quality types sold back to €1.30/kg to €1.40/kg and this price range also included some good-quality Friesian cows weighing from 700kg to 840kg live weight.
Cows with calves at foot
There was a higher than normal entry of 36 cows with calves at foot. This was boosted by a clearance of cows with strong spring-born calves at foot, some of which weighed between 200kg and 300kg liveweight.
Quality of these lots was good, but the one aspect which went against them was many were not back in-calf. They sold from €1,100 to €1,700 on average, with the top price of €2,200 for a quality Charolais calf and strong heifer calf at foot.
The 36 cows offered averaged €1,210, with plainer aged cows or dairy crossbred with young calves at foot selling from €1,000 to €1,100, with better-quality lots increasing to €1,100 per head.
This Charolais-cross cow, weighing 690kg and born March 2007, sold for €1,180 (€1.71/kg).
This 645kg Limousin cow born November 2014 sold for €1,040 (€1.61/kg).
This fleshed Simmental-cross cow, weighing 810kg and born April 2007, sold for €1,220 (€1.51/kg).
This 815kg Charolais-cross cow born May 2013 sold for €1,130 (€1.39/kg).
This Hereford-cross cow, weighing 715kg and born June 2016, sold for €1,190 (€1.66/kg).
This 780kg Friesian cow born May 2011 sold for €1,030 (€1.32/kg).
This fleshed Friesian cow, weighing 830kg and born April 2011, sold for €1,150 (€1.39/kg).
This light 485kg Limousin-cross cow born May 2017 sold for €840 (€1.73/kg).
This muscled Belgian Blue-cross cow, weighing 655kg and born January 2010, sold for €1,280 (1.95/kg).
This aged June 2004-born Limousin-cross cow weighing 595kg sold for €890 (€1.50/kg).
This Limousin-cross cow, born May 2016 and weighing 820kg, sold for €1,380 (€1.68/kg).
Castlerea Mart in Co Roscommon had a good entry of 91 dry cows at last Thursday’s sale. There was a sharper atmosphere around the ring, with interest from Northern buyers also adding extra competition to the trade.
Analysis of MartBids prices shows the top third of cows averaging €1.81/kg. This includes a selection of U grading cows, which ranged in price from €1.85/kg to €1.95/kg.
Strong demand for lighter cows
Many of these were lighter cows weighing in the region of 650kg to 700kg, with manager Brendan Egan reporting that these type of cows are meeting the strongest demand in recent months.
The top price of €1,720 was paid for a young 2017-born Charolais-cross cow which crossed the scales at 920kg.
The average price was recorded at €1.60/kg, with this including O grading beef-cross cows and fresh feeding cows fit to do a quick thrive.
Plainer-quality types sold back to €1.30/kg to €1.40/kg and this price range also included some good-quality Friesian cows weighing from 700kg to 840kg live weight.
Cows with calves at foot
There was a higher than normal entry of 36 cows with calves at foot. This was boosted by a clearance of cows with strong spring-born calves at foot, some of which weighed between 200kg and 300kg liveweight.
Quality of these lots was good, but the one aspect which went against them was many were not back in-calf. They sold from €1,100 to €1,700 on average, with the top price of €2,200 for a quality Charolais calf and strong heifer calf at foot.
The 36 cows offered averaged €1,210, with plainer aged cows or dairy crossbred with young calves at foot selling from €1,000 to €1,100, with better-quality lots increasing to €1,100 per head.
This Charolais-cross cow, weighing 690kg and born March 2007, sold for €1,180 (€1.71/kg).
This 645kg Limousin cow born November 2014 sold for €1,040 (€1.61/kg).
This fleshed Simmental-cross cow, weighing 810kg and born April 2007, sold for €1,220 (€1.51/kg).
This 815kg Charolais-cross cow born May 2013 sold for €1,130 (€1.39/kg).
This Hereford-cross cow, weighing 715kg and born June 2016, sold for €1,190 (€1.66/kg).
This 780kg Friesian cow born May 2011 sold for €1,030 (€1.32/kg).
This fleshed Friesian cow, weighing 830kg and born April 2011, sold for €1,150 (€1.39/kg).
This light 485kg Limousin-cross cow born May 2017 sold for €840 (€1.73/kg).
This muscled Belgian Blue-cross cow, weighing 655kg and born January 2010, sold for €1,280 (1.95/kg).
This aged June 2004-born Limousin-cross cow weighing 595kg sold for €890 (€1.50/kg).
This Limousin-cross cow, born May 2016 and weighing 820kg, sold for €1,380 (€1.68/kg).
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