Roscrea Mart’s fatstock sale of dry cows on Wednesday defied recent downward pressure on cow prices with a lively trade.
Central Auctions manager Michael Harty said the trade was helped by the high quality of cows on offer, with a significant number of cows on offer weighing upwards of 800kg and a selection of cows weighing all the way from 900kg to in excess of one tonne weight.
This underpinned a fine average price of €4.19/kg for the top third of 260 cows traded in the sale.
The top price of €4,460 was paid for a massive Charolais cow hitting the scales at 1,105kg, while the hammer fell at the top price per kilo of €5.24/kg for the first-prizewinning Belgian Blue cow weighing 825kg.
Three other heavy well-conformed cows topped the €4,000 mark, while 60 cows - or 23% of the entry - topped €3,000.
Firm trade
The trade was firm for all types of cows, with the average price recorded at €3.60/kg.
Some lighter feeding cows and plainer-quality O/R- grading continental and traditionally-bred cows sold from €3.30/kg to €3.60/kg.
Michael commented that there was some excellent Friesian cows on offer with weight and flesh on their side.
Such cows sold from €2.90/kg to €3.20/kg, with lesser-quality lots from €2.60/kg and €2.90/kg and lighter cows weighing from 480kg to 550kg selling from €2.20/kg to €2.55/kg.
The mart will hold its annual fatstock heifer sale on Friday 9 January, with a large entry of top-quality heifers on offer. Bidding is ringside and via the MartBids online sales platform.
This heavy Charolais cow weighing 1,105kg and born 02/09/2021 sold for €4,460 (€4.04/kg).
Weighing 935kg, this Belgian Blue-cross cow born 03/02/2020 sold for €4,350 (€4.62/kg).
The first-prizewinning Belgian Blue-cross cow weighing 825kg and born 07/04/2022 sold for the top price per kilo of €4,320 (€5.24/kg).
This Belgian Blue-cross cow weighing 845kg and born 27/10/2021 sold for €4,050 (€4.79/kg).
This Limousin cow born 12/09/2019 and weighing 885kg sold for €3,800 (€4.29/kg).
Weighing 820kg, this Charolais-cross cow born 17/03/2022 sold for €3,500 (€4.27/kg).
This top-quality Limousin cow weighing 780kg and born 21/09/2020 sold for €3,320 (€4.26/kg).
Born in March 2016, this Limousin cow weighing 760kg sold for €3,080 (€4.05/kg).
This Limousin-cross cow weighing 695kg and born 07/10/2020 sold for €2,970 (€4.27/kg).
This Simmental-cross cow weighing 770kg and born 03/07/2019 sold for €2,860 (€3.71/kg).
Weighing 725kg, this Simmental-cross cow born 22/10/2018 sold for €2,480 (€3.42/kg).
With an average weight of 727kg, these two large-framed Friesian cows born in 2015 sold for €2,180 (€3/kg).
This Aubrac bull weighing 885kg and born 22/05/2022 sold for €3,700 (€4.18/kg).
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