Saturday’s general cattle sale at Carnew Mart saw an entry of over 450 cattle on offer. The trade overall was quite steady for stores, but some beef cattle were a little easier.

Heavy bullocks over 600kg saw prices vary greatly, depending on quality and age. Overage bullocks sold from €1.42/kg to €1.83/kg, but the numbers of these on offer was low.

This Charolais-cross heifer, born March 2017 and weighing 554kg, sold for €1,100 (€1.99/kg).

In-spec bullocks over 600kg sold mainly from €1.90/kg to €2.00/kg for good continentals, while Friesians made from €1.30/kg to €1.48/kg. Forward store bullocks from 500kg to 600kg were mainly continentals, but there were some Angus bullocks on offer also.

Angus types in this weight range sold mainly from €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg, with continentals selling mainly from €1.90/kg to €2.26/kg.

This Belgian Blue-cross heifer, born March 2017 and weighing 536kg, sold for €1,080 (€2.02/kg).

Light stores saw large variations in prices, depending on the quality of stock also. Friesian types from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €1.10/kg to €1.24/kg, but the numbers of these on offer was low.

Continentals sold mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.30/kg at the top end of the market.

Angus in this weight range sold mainly from €1.70/kg to €1.85/kg, while Friesians sold from the weight to €70 along with the weight.

This Belgian Blue-cross heifer, born April 2017 and weighing 542kg, sold for, €1,100 (€2.03/kg).

Heavy heifers saw less of a dairy influence, which helped average prices. Heavy heifers over 600kg were mostly good-quality heifers which sold from €1.90/kg to €2.00/kg, with plainer types making from €1.80/kg and upwards.

Heifers from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €1.90/kg to €2.00/kg, with the majority of those on offer being good-quality Belgian Blue-crosses.

Heifers from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €1.90/kg to €2.00/kg, with some better types making over €2.15/kg.

This Belgian Blue-cross heifer, born April 2017 and weighing 482kg, sold for €1,150 (€2.39/kg).

The quality of light heifers from 350kg to 400kg on offer was quite good, which helped average prices. Continentals sold mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.54/kg at the top of the market for some top-quality Limousin heifers.

The cow trade saw prices average around €1.30/kg across the sale. Better-quality continental cows carrying some flesh sold from €1.50/kg to €1.70/kg. Better-quality Friesian cows sold from €1.30/kg to €1.55/kg, with parlour cows making from €0.80/kg to the weight.

Commission rates are 1.5% to the seller and €10 to the buyer.

This Belgian Blue-cross bullock, born January 2017 and weighing 526kg, sold for €1,240 (€2.36/kg).

This Limousin-cross heifer, born September 2017 and weighing 618kg, sold for €1,140 (€1.85/kg).

This Belgian Blue-cross heifer, born March 2017 and weighing 558kg, sold for €1,190 (€2.13/kg).

This pair of Charolais-cross bullocks, born September/December 2017 and weighing 488kg on average, sold for €880 each (€1.80/kg).

This Limousin-cross bullock, born October 2016 and weighing 596kg, sold for €1,235 (€2.07/kg).

This Belgian Blue-cross bullock, born April 2017 and weighing 480kg, sold for €1,115 (€2.32/kg).

This Limousin-cross heifer, born September 2017 and weighing 680kg, sold for €1,300 (€1.91/kg).

This Belgian Blue-cross bullock, born March 2017 and weighing 514kg, sold for €1,240 (€2.41/kg).