Camera at the Mart: buoyant trade for bulls in Kingscourt

A positive trade overall was recorded in Kingscourt Mart on Saturday last for its weanling, runner and suckler sale, with all types of stock meeting keen demand.

While top-class export bulls were in low supply, a good showing of bulls for farmer buyers and feedlots were available, with a strong presence of dairy-beef stock also on sale, with one farmer’s consignment of 40 Friesian and Angus bulls adding to numbers.

Auctioneer Lisa Keenan noted: “While we haven’t the same quality of cattle as was seen earlier in the season, trade is still very good and there are still plenty of buyers eager to secure numbers of cattle.

“There was a strong show of bulls in particular, with over 120 bulls present, with high clearances recorded throughout.”

Some 145 weanlings in total were on offer, with a 98% clearance recorded.

In the bull ring, the good-quality Charolais bull calf was back a touch, hitting either side of €5/kg, with farmer buyers active for these types, while feedlots were also active.

Shippers were active on the Limousin bull calves around 350kg, with these types hitting between €5/kg and €6/kg, with quality dictating at which side of the price these sold at.

Top price per kilo in the weanling ring was a Limousin-cross weighing 290kg that sold for €2,000 (€6.90/kg).

There was a strong entry of lighter weanling and runner-type stock of dairy-beef origin, with the majority of these being Friesian and Angus-cross types. There was a keen appetite for these lots.

Angus-cross weanlings around the 250kg mark were selling in the main between €1,100 and €1,150 or €4.50/kg to €4.70/kg liveweight.

The turnout of heifers was small, with around 30 heifers on offer, but the quality was good, with mostly continental-bred types suitable for feeding or replacements.

Albeit lower in number, these lots met with equally keen demand, especially among farmers, with prices again in the €5/kg to €6/kg bracket, with higher price per kg for lighter, U and R grading types.

Two nice-quality Charolais-cross suck calves weighing 97kg sold for €760/head.

While numbers were low in the suckler and cull ring, demand was still sharp, with factory agents active for well-fleshed heavy cows.

Top call in the suckler section was for a quality Blue-cross cow with a Limousin-cross calf at foot that sold for a price of €3,200.