Manager Tom McCarthy was happy with the extra throughput of numbers. He said: “There are some super Friesians here and they are selling well. Despite all the doom and gloom we hear about Brexit, farmer buyers are very active for cattle.”

Majority were born in 2016

The majority of bullocks on offer were spring 2016-born. Numbers were up and with 205 Friesians on offer, they back-boned a traditional Bandon sale.

Friesians likely to grade well made from €1.65/kg to €1.80/kg, while P grade types, for the most part, were selling from €1.50/kg to €1.65/kg. Weight for age and movements also had a say in determining final prices.

Angus and Hereford

Angus and Hereford bullock numbers were similar to Friesians, but there seemed to be two Angus for every Hereford.

In the main, they sold from €1.70/kg for crosses showing a lot of dairy influence up to €2/kg. Continentals were scarce and what was on offer made up to €2.15/kg.

There was a small supply of forward stores and these made from €1.60/kg for Friesians to €2.05/kg for beef crosses.

Sample prices

2016-born bullocks:

  • Five Friesian, February, 478kg – €850, €1.78/kg.
  • Four Friesian, January, 455kg – €785, €1.73/kg.
  • Five Friesian, January, 518kg – €910, €1.66/kg.
  • Four Hereford, March, 468kg – €910, €1.94/kg.
  • Five Hereford, June, 405kg – €830, €2.05/kg.
  • Three Angus, January, 590kg – €1,155, €1.96/kg.
  • Four Angus, January, 607kg – €1,170, €1.93/kg.
  • Five Simmental, April, 515kg – €1,050, €2.04/kg.
  • One Montbeliarde, January, 540kg – €1,020, €1.89/kg.

    • Forward stores

  • Two Friesian, January 2015, 677kg – €1,120, €1.65/kg.
  • Four Hereford, January 2015, 626kg – €1,065, €1.70/kg.
  • One Limousin, April 2015, 760kg – €1,560, €2.05/kg.
  • Five Angus, May 2015, 565kg – €1,025, €1.81/kg.

    • There was about 70 cows on offer and forward fleshed cows have continued to remain in demand. Heavy cows dominated numbers and cows made from €80 under their weight to €425 over the euro per kilo.

    Sample prices

    Cows

  • One Friesian, 720kg - €1,145, €1.59/kg.
  • One Friesian, 670kg - €950, €1.42/kg.
  • One Friesian, 800kg - €1,080, €1.35/kg.
  • One Hereford, 730kg - €1,150, €1.58/kg.

    • Heifers made between €200 and €550 over the euro per kilo.

    Sample prices

  • Five Hereford, 430kg - €790, €1.84/kg.
  • Four Limousin, 452kg - €860, €1.90/kg.
  • One Hereford, 505kg - €940, €1.86/kg.
  • One Simmental, 395kg - €865, €2.19/kg.

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