An entry of almost 500 cattle was met with a brisk trade in Central Auctions Mart Birr on Monday 29 August.
Speaking after the sale, mart manager Michael Harty said that any fear of grass shortages didn’t seem to be having a negative effect on the trade so far, with good demand for all stock classes and a 94% clearance rate on the day.
“We had a sizeable entry of bullocks from 400kg to 500kg on the day and they were a decent trade.
“There was a lot of buyers present, many of whom have finished stock in the last few weeks and are back out to replenish numbers.”
These bullocks from 400kg to 500kg averaged €2.25/kg, with a small number of Friesian bullocks trading from €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg, while beef-cross dairy types were moving from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg for the most part.
Suckler stock
Suckler-bred stock were being sold from €2.40/kg up to €2.60/kg depending on quality.
Heavier bullocks weighing from 500kg to 600kg averaged €2.31/kg, while those over 600kg averaged €2.54/kg, with the top third making €2.78/kg as the demand for finished stock continues.
At the lighter end of the market, steers from 350kg to 400kg were making €2.25/kg, with better-quality lots making as much as €2.50/kg to €2.60/kg.
Heifers
A small entry of light heifers from 350kg to 400kg averaged €2.20/kg, with most of these being Angus and Hereford diary crosses.
Those weighing from 400kg to 500kg traded from €2/kg to €2.25/kg for dairy-beef types, while suckler-bred continental cattle were making €2.40/kg to €2.45/kg.
The price per kilo increased with weight throughout the sale, with those from 500kg to 600kg averaging €2.32/kg, with the top lots making as much as €2.80/kg in select circumstances.
A small number of heavy heifers over 600kg averaged €2.45/kg, with a batch of five 632kg Hereford-crosses making €1,540 (€2.44/kg), while a Charolais weighing 650kg made €1,780 (€2.74/kg).
Steady appetite
Commenting on the trade for heavier animals, Michael said: “The appetite for factory-fit stock ringside has been quite steady over the last number of weeks, which has helped maintain a decent return for sellers of this type of stock despite factory quotes having reduced in recent weeks.”
This pair of Friesian bullocks, born March 2021, weighed 445kg and sold for €850 each (€1.91/kg).
These two Hereford bullocks were born in May 2021, weighed 405kg and sold for €950 each (€2.35/kg).
This February 2021-born Charolais bullock weighed 555kg and sold for €1,400 (€2.52/kg).
This April 2021-born Charolais bullock weighed 525kg and sold for €1,300 (€2.48/kg).
This April 2021-born Blonde D’Aquitaine bullock weighed 540kg and sold for €1,310 (€2.43/kg).
This Limousin heifer, born April 2021, weighed 455kg and sold for €1,010 (€2.22/kg).
These three Hereford heifers, born March 2021, averaged 476kg and sold for €990 each (€2.08/kg).
This April 2021-born Aubrac heifer weighed 390kg and sold for €790 (€2.03/kg).
This May 2021-born Charolais heifer weighed 650kg and sold for €1,780 (€2.74/kg).
This September 2019-born Limousin heifer weighed 580kg and sold for €1,390 (€2.40/kg).
This 635kg Limousin heifer, born March 2020, sold for €1,510 (€2.38/kg).
An entry of almost 500 cattle was met with a brisk trade in Central Auctions Mart Birr on Monday 29 August.
Speaking after the sale, mart manager Michael Harty said that any fear of grass shortages didn’t seem to be having a negative effect on the trade so far, with good demand for all stock classes and a 94% clearance rate on the day.
“We had a sizeable entry of bullocks from 400kg to 500kg on the day and they were a decent trade.
“There was a lot of buyers present, many of whom have finished stock in the last few weeks and are back out to replenish numbers.”
These bullocks from 400kg to 500kg averaged €2.25/kg, with a small number of Friesian bullocks trading from €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg, while beef-cross dairy types were moving from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg for the most part.
Suckler stock
Suckler-bred stock were being sold from €2.40/kg up to €2.60/kg depending on quality.
Heavier bullocks weighing from 500kg to 600kg averaged €2.31/kg, while those over 600kg averaged €2.54/kg, with the top third making €2.78/kg as the demand for finished stock continues.
At the lighter end of the market, steers from 350kg to 400kg were making €2.25/kg, with better-quality lots making as much as €2.50/kg to €2.60/kg.
Heifers
A small entry of light heifers from 350kg to 400kg averaged €2.20/kg, with most of these being Angus and Hereford diary crosses.
Those weighing from 400kg to 500kg traded from €2/kg to €2.25/kg for dairy-beef types, while suckler-bred continental cattle were making €2.40/kg to €2.45/kg.
The price per kilo increased with weight throughout the sale, with those from 500kg to 600kg averaging €2.32/kg, with the top lots making as much as €2.80/kg in select circumstances.
A small number of heavy heifers over 600kg averaged €2.45/kg, with a batch of five 632kg Hereford-crosses making €1,540 (€2.44/kg), while a Charolais weighing 650kg made €1,780 (€2.74/kg).
Steady appetite
Commenting on the trade for heavier animals, Michael said: “The appetite for factory-fit stock ringside has been quite steady over the last number of weeks, which has helped maintain a decent return for sellers of this type of stock despite factory quotes having reduced in recent weeks.”
This pair of Friesian bullocks, born March 2021, weighed 445kg and sold for €850 each (€1.91/kg).
These two Hereford bullocks were born in May 2021, weighed 405kg and sold for €950 each (€2.35/kg).
This February 2021-born Charolais bullock weighed 555kg and sold for €1,400 (€2.52/kg).
This April 2021-born Charolais bullock weighed 525kg and sold for €1,300 (€2.48/kg).
This April 2021-born Blonde D’Aquitaine bullock weighed 540kg and sold for €1,310 (€2.43/kg).
This Limousin heifer, born April 2021, weighed 455kg and sold for €1,010 (€2.22/kg).
These three Hereford heifers, born March 2021, averaged 476kg and sold for €990 each (€2.08/kg).
This April 2021-born Aubrac heifer weighed 390kg and sold for €790 (€2.03/kg).
This May 2021-born Charolais heifer weighed 650kg and sold for €1,780 (€2.74/kg).
This September 2019-born Limousin heifer weighed 580kg and sold for €1,390 (€2.40/kg).
This 635kg Limousin heifer, born March 2020, sold for €1,510 (€2.38/kg).
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