Martin McNamara, manager of Clare marts, was pleased with last Wednesday's cattle show and sale in Kilrush mart.

There was a higher entry of cattle on offer with greater throughput also met with more buyers in attendance.

"We have seen a trend in the last few months of more buyers looking for good-quality cattle," said Martin.

"Some of these have tried their hand with crossbred stock from the dairy herd and are returning to continental cattle that will respond better to feeding and deliver higher carcase weights. The feedback we are getting is that they are willing to travel to source good suckler-bred stock."

This Angus heifer weighing 505kg was born February 2016 and sold for €890 (€1.76/kg).

Three quality forward store Limousin bullocks with an average weight of 640kg and born April 2015 sold for €1,350 each (€2.11/kg).

The majority of cattle on offer were continental stores.

Good-quality spring 2015-born cattle weighing 580kg upwards sold from €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg, with the highest-quality lots and those that have a chance of slughtering under 30 months selling in cases up to €2.20/kg.

A pair of March 2015-born quality Charolais heifers with an average weight of 708kg sold for €1460 each (€2.06/kg).

More options

The mart manager said 2016-born cattle are especially sought after at present due to the fact that they offer greater options.

"We have a number of men that want cattle to finish over the winter while others are in a system of letting cattle back out to grass and finishing next July and August.

"This is increasing competition and cattle weighing about 500kg are selling from €1,100 to €1,200 on average, with the best lots making more."

Prices followed a very similar trend for heifers.

Herefords

There was also an entry of heavy Hereford cattle on offer.

Lots weighing 670kg to 720kg sold from €1.85/kg for O-/= grading lots with the best quality lots, as shown in the photos, rising to over €2.00/kg.

These 295kg Hereford heifers were born April 2015 and sold for €520 each (€1.76/kg).

Four good-quality store Hereford bullocks with an average weight of 438kg and born February 2016 sold for €910 each (€2.08/kg).

This pen of top-quality prizewinning Hereford bullocks with an average weight of 670kg and born February 2015 sold for €1,420 each (€2.12/kg).

Friesians

Likewise, there was an entry of good-quality British Friesian bullocks from a few producers. 2016-born bullocks weighing 420kg to 450kg sold from €1.60/kg to €1.75/kg on average with a few entries rising to €1.80/kg.

Four Friesian bullocks with an average weight of 476kg and born February 2016 sold for €740 each (€1.55/kg).

These two Limousin heifers with an average weight of 618kg were born January 2015 and sold for €1,235 each (€2.00/kg).

This pair of quality Limousin heifers with an average weight of 692kg sold for €1,355 each (€1.96/kg).

This February 2016-born Charolais heifer with a good cover of flesh and weighing 465kg sold for €945 (€2.03/kg).

These prize-winning Charolais heifers with an average weight of 368kg and born March 2016 sold for €875 each (€2.38/kg).

These heavy Hereford bullocks with an average weight of 712kg and born February 2015 sold for €1,300 each €1.83/kg.

This pair of April 2015-born Charolais bullocks weighing 675kg on average sold for €1,375 each (€2.04/kg).