The main camera at the mart was at last week’s spring show and sale at Kilrush Mart. There was a strong entry of 360 cattle on offer, with farmers and agents active for all good-quality types.
The dry cow trade was quite strong, with continental feeding cows making from €1.70/kg to €1.85/kg, with prices of up to €1,500 being paid for a top-quality 810kg Limousin.
Friesian cows sold mainly from €1.31/kg upwards, with a good-quality fleshed 600kg cow making just shy of €1,000.
Calf prices ranged mainly from €40 to €70 for light and young types to €115 for better-quality Friesian calves. There was strong demand again for Angus and Hereford calves, with prices ranging mainly from €175 for young and light types to €300 for better-quality well-conformed types.
Demand for heifers was very strong, especially for well-fleshed and short-keep types.
Light weanling heifers were a firm trade and sold mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.80/kg, with heavier weanlings from 300kg to 400kg selling mainly from €2.40/kg to €2.70/kg.
The best trade on the day for heifers was for short-keep types.
Good-quality forward continental heifers sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg, with the top pair of Charolais heifers making €1,350, while several other good-quality types made from €1,200 to €1,300.
The bullock sale was met with very strong demand. Light bulls from 300kg to 400kg sold readily from €800 to €950/head, while light store bullocks sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg, with top-quality types making over €2.50/kg.
Those over 500kg were met with plenty of farmer buyer activity and sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg, with top-quality types making over €2.40/kg.
Again, the best trade in the bullock section was for good-quality well-fleshed bullocks.
Good-quality short-keep and factory-fit continentals sold mainly from €2.15/kg to €2.20/kg, with some good-quality 600kg to 700kg types selling from €1,300 to €1,450. The top price was for a pair of Limousin bullocks at €1,690.
Commission rates are 1.2% to 1.4% to the seller with a maximum charge of €11 for multiples and €13 for singles and €9 to the buyer.