An entry of 170 dry cows stole the limelight at last Thursday 12 February's fatstock show and sale in Ennis mart. Over 40 cows topped the €4/kg mark with the top third of cows averaging €4.23/kg. The champion cow was a Belgian Blue-cross cow weighing 910kg and which sold for €5,160 (€5.67/kg). Agents purchasing on behalf of plants / abattoirs most active in the cow trade were all active.

Manager Martin McNamara commented that the entry of cows was as good as he has seen during his tenure adding that this set the tone for a vigorous trade. Good-quality R grading cows sold from €3.60/kg to €4/kg while some O grading beef cows sold from €3.20/kg to €3.60/kg. Friesian cows sold in the main from €2.50/kg to €3/kg with a handful of young Friesian cows selling to €3.30/kg.

The entry of bullocks was strong with almost 400 head on offer. Close to 50% of these were heavier bullocks weighing in excess of 600kg, many of which were fit for slaughter or for short-term finishing. The average prices was recorded at €4.11/kg with the top third hitting €4.52/kg and the bottom third at €3.67/kg with a small number of Friesian and Angus / Hereford-crosses from €3.30/kg to €3.90/kg.

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The top third of lighter bullocks weighing 500kg to 600kg topped the €5/kg mark with Martin reporting some excellent-quality stores selling to €5.40/kg. The average price in this weight category was €4.32/kg with Angus-cross and Hereford-cross bullocks selling from €3.47/kg to €4.10/kg.

There was some very fancy prices paid for bullocks weighing 400kg to 500kg with 40 lots selling from €5/kg to €5.55/kg. Good-quality continentals sold from €4.30/kg to €5/kg with dairy cross from €3.60/kg to €4.20/kg.

There was over 200 heifers weighing from 400kg to upwards of 600kg. Heifers averaging from 400kg to 500kg averaged €4.59/kg with the top third of lots selling to €5.16/kg. Heifers weighing from 500kg to 600kg recorded similarly strong prices with the average price at €4.57/kg, top third at €5.07/kg and the bottom third averaging €4.01/kg.

There was some super-quality two year old heifers weighing upwards of 600kg with prices averaging €4.77/kg and ranging from €4.50/kg to €5/kg and reaching a top price of €3,720 for 690kg, or €5.39/kg. The average price here was €4.26/kg with the bottom third at €3.72/kg.

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The champion Belgian Blue cow weighing 910kg and born 04/11/2018 topped the sale at €5,160 (€5.67/kg).

This young Limousin cow weighing 980kg and born 30/03/23 sold for €4,160 (€4.24/kg).

Weighing 830kg, this Charolais-cross cow born 17/11/20 sold for €4,010 (€4.83/kg).

This heavy 940kg Charolais-cross cow born 09/04/19 sold for €3,770 (€4.01/kg).

This 885kg Limousin cow born 24/02/18 sold for €3,660 (€4.14/kg).

This Belgian Blue-cross cow weighing 785kg and born 12/02/23 sold for €3,460 (€4.41/kg).

Weighing 845kg, this Blonde d’Aquitaine-cross cow born 01/04/21 sold for €3,340 (€3.95/kg).

Heifers

This Limousin-cross first prizewinning heifer weighing 815kg and born 05/07/23 sold for €3,710 (€4.55/kg).

This Limousin-cross heifer weighing 675kg and born 07/10/23 sold for €3,360 (€4.98/kg).

Weighing 700kg, this top-quality Charolais-cross heifer born 02/04/24 sold for €3,260 (€4.66/kg).

Six Angus-cross heifers averaging 436.7kg and born spring 2024 sold for €1,630 (€3.73/kg).

Five excellent-quality Limousin-cross heifers averaging 536kg and born spring 2024 sold for €2,780 (€5.19/kg).

Bullocks

This pair of Limousin-cross bullocks born August 2023 sold for €3,800 (€4.33/kg).

Seven top-quality Charolais-cross and Simmental-cross bullocks weighing 560kg and born early 2024 sold for €2.950 (€5.27/kg).

This batch of seven Angus-cross bullocks weighing 788.6kg on average and born spring 2023 sold for €2,900 (€3.68/kg).

Five good-quality Limousin store bullocks weighing 475kg on average sold for €2,480 (€5.22/kg).