Monday’s general sale in Birr Mart, Co Offaly, saw an entry of over 250 cattle, including over 90 male cattle and 30 dry cows. A 95% clearance rate was achieved.

Bulls and bullocks

Lighter male cattle were a better trade this week. Those from 350kg to 400kg sold to an average price of €1.90/kg. Friesians ranged from €1.60/kg to €1.85/kg, while dairy-beef breeds ran from €1.90/kg to €2.05/kg.

From 400kg to 500kg, the average was €2.02/kg. Here, it was all Hereford and Angus breeding and these started at €1.90/kg up to €2.20/kg.

This Hereford-cross bullock, born May 2018 and weighing 475kg sold for €995 (€2.09/kg).

This pair of Hereford-cross bullocks, born May 2018 and weighing 447kg sold for €920 (€2.06/kg).

Heavier stores from 500kg to 600kg averaged €1.91/kg overall. Friesian-bred cattle bottomed at €1.50/kg and climbed to €1.80/kg for better lots. Traditional breeds continued up to €2.10/kg, while continentals peaked at €2.25/kg.

A small showing of heavy bullocks over 600kg came into an average of €1.95/kg.

This Hereford-cross bullock, born March 2018 and weighing 560kg sold for €1,050 (€1.88/kg).

This Limousin-cross bullock, born March 2018 and weighing 520kg sold for €1,090 (€2.10/kg).

This Hereford-cross bullock, born March 2018 and weighing 555kg sold for €1,100 (€1.98/kg).

Heifers

Store heifers weighing between 400kg and 500kg sold to an average price of €1.89/kg. Dairy-beef-bred lots ranged from €1.60/kg up to €1.90/kg for better-quality lots. Continental heifers started at €2/kg and ran to €2.10/kg.

Heavier stores heifers from 500kg to 600kg in weight came into €1.94/kg overall. By breed, a handful of Friesians sold for between €1.55/kg and €1.75/kg. Dairy-beef breeds sold for €1.80/kg right up to €2.15/kg for nice-quality animals. A 525kg Charolais-cross heifer topped the heifer trade at €2.19/kg.

For a report on the cow trade on the day, see this week’s Irish Farmers Journal in print or online.

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.