Gortatlea Mart in Kerry held a special E and U grading weanling sale with close to 700 cattle available on Wednesday evening.

Exporters were very active for younger stock in the 250kg to 320kg bracket, while feeders were to the fore for heavier bull weanlings.

Most cattle made between €400 and €900 over €/kg. Prices ranging from €2.90/kg up to €3.39/kg were available for E grading stock and a good number of U grading cattle.

With most of the export-type weanlings sold for between €2.60/kg to €2.80/kg, cattle with the potential to hit R grades were selling for similar money.

Dairy cross stock were a tougher sell on the night.

Sample prices: heavier bulls over 350kg

  • One Belgian blue, 375kg: €1,270, €3.39/kg.
  • One Blonde d’Aquitaine, 400kg: €1,230, €3.08/kg.
  • One Belgian Blue, 425kg: €1,300, €3.06/kg.
  • One Charolais, 435kg: €1,165,€2.68/kg.
  • One Parthenaise 380kg: €1,050, €2.76/kg.
  • One Blonde d’Aquitaine, 400kg: €1,110, €2.78/kg.

    • Sample prices: lighter bulls under 350kg

  • Three Limousin, 235kg: €750, €3.19/kg.
  • One Charolais, 300kg: €880, €2.93/kg.
  • Three Limousin, 333kg: €940, €2.82/kg.
  • One Belgian blue , 270kg: €805, €2.98/kg.
  • One Limousin, 280kg: €800, €2.86/kg.

    • Heifers were making €250 up to €990 with their weight. Price per kilo ranged from €2.40/kg up to €2.80/kg for the most part with exceptions made for heavily muscled blues and Blondes.

    Select lots of high replacement value heifers sold for up to and over €2.90/kg.

    Sample prices: heifers

  • One Belgian blue, 380kg: €1,300, €3.42/kg.
  • Three Limousin, 325kg: €800, €2.46/kg.
  • One Charolais, 295kg: €825, €2.80/kg.
  • One Limousin 270kg: €735, €2.72/kg.
  • Four Charolais, 340kg: €990, €2.91/kg.

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