A 97% clearance rate in Cork Marts Cahir last Wednesday highlighted once again the demand for quality cattle, with forward cattle scooped up by factory agents from all corners.

With grass customers starting to appear, store cattle were in short supply and hot demand. There was an exceptional trade for quality assured Hereford and Aberdeen Angus cattle for grass, with a group of eight Hereford-cross heifers weighing 303kg selling for €820 (€2.71/kg) and an Aberdeen Angus heifer weighing 465kg selling for €1,270 (€2.73/kg).

Despite these groups selling very well, it was the small group of continentals that topped the heifer lots, as a pair of Limousin-cross heifers weighing 290kg sold for €900 (€3.10/kg).

Aberdeen Angus bullocks also sold particularly well, securing prices of between €2.56/kg and €2.91/kg, which was secured for a group of six bullocks weighing 395kg.

Likewise, the traditional Herford types sold well and generally in the range of €1.85/kg up to €2.73/kg. Friesian bullocks were also in demand and typically fetched prices of between €1.74/kg and €2.18/kg.

Despite the number of continental bullocks being low in Cahir, the few lots of Limousin-crosses present sold very well, with the lower end selling for €2.92/kg and the top end commanding some of the highest prices at €3.33/kg.

There was a strong dairy influence in the dry cow ring, with Friesian cows weighing from 500kg to 600kg selling between €1.78/kg and €2.51/kg, while Friesian cows weighing over the 600kg mark generally sold in the range of €1.98/kg and €2.19/kg.

Hereford cows commanded prices in the range of €2.45/kg and €2.68, while Aberdeen Angus-cross cows sold in the range of €1.95/kg and €2.61/kg.

Topping the lots in the cow ring was a Limousin cow weighing 810kg that sold for €2,290 (€2.83/kg).

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, mart manager Jonathan O’Sullivan said: “Numbers have steadied this week after a very busy January, but are expected to start rising again from next week.