There was a small number of light weanling bull calves on offer, mainly dairy-crosses under 300kg. These sold mainly from €1.75/kg to €2.00/kg for better-quality types, while light continental bulls sold up to €2.50/kg.
Weanling bulls from 300kg to 400kg were met with good farmer demand also. Again, those with dairy influence sold mainly from €1.85/kg to €2.10/kg, with prices ranging mainly from €400 to €600 along with the weight.
Top-quality continental bulls sold at the higher end of prices, with a 355kg Charolais-cross bull making €990. Bullocks from 400kg to 500kg sold for about €500 over the weight for average-quality types.
There were some Friesians on offer which made from €200 to €300 along with the weight, while better-quality continental types sold from €500 to €600 along with the weight or from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg for good quality.
Heavier bullocks over 500kg were met with strong demand and sold mainly from €2.05/kg to €2.36/kg for continental types. This translated into €530 to €600 along with the weight. For exceptional types, prices of up to €710 along with the weight were paid.
Heavy types over 600kg were met with strong feeder activity and sold from €600 to €800 along with the weight for continental types and from €400 to €630 over for fleshed short-keep Friesians. Age was having an impact, with overage continentals making around €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg.
The heifer trade was quite strong, again with plenty of buyer activity for all younger types. Light heifers over 300kg sold mainly from €260 to €340 over the weight for dairy crosses and from €400 to €520 over for better-quality continentals.
Those from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €450 to €600 over the weight for continentals and from €350 to €450 for Angus-crosses.
Friesian cull cows sold mainly from €200 to €300 over the weight, while continental feeding cows sold from €1.60/kg to €1.80/kg. Commission rates are €9 to the seller and 1.25% to 1.5% to the buyer.
Trade steady despite increasing grass buyer demand
Farmer demand growing at Ardee Mart
Friesian bull calf prices ease slightly as numbers jump