Viewers logged on to www.martbids.ie on Friday for the first online weekly sale in Roscrea. Of the 380 animals going forward for sale, 308 met trade representing a healthy average of over 81%. This was a very positive report given the sale had no live buyers around the ring. Instead, all used the app or website.

This pair of Limousin-cross steers, with an average weight of 527kg at an average age of 511 days, sold for €1,270 (€2.41/kg).

Central Auctions manager Michael Hearty said: “We’re very happy with the trade today. There was a top-quality entry with some great heifers, in particular. These lots were met with a strong farmer demand. Anything that bit more forward with flesh met a very good trade. Overall, we are very happy with our first online sale in Roscrea.”

Trade was topped with a call of €1,580 for a 705kg Limousin-cross heifer. This shapely two-year-old sold for €2.24/kg.

This 555kg Limousin-cross 23-month-old steer sold for €1,230 (€2.22/kg).

The overall heifer trade was positive. It averaged between €2.06/kg and €2.12/kg across the different weight categories.

The upper end of these again saw a premium reaching an average of €2.33/kg.

In the bullock section, fit steers demanded the higher prices with those over 500kg peaking at €2.41/kg. Overall, the top third of these weights came in at €2.22/kg.

Younger steers and those failing to break the 500kg mark were harder to get into the money, with 77 averaging €1.92/kg.

This Hereford-cross steer, born in February 2018 and weighing 696kg, sold for €1,390 (€2/kg).

This pair of Hereford-cross steers with an average weight of 690kg sold for €1,420 (€2.06/kg).

This Limousin-cross weanling bull, born July 2019 and weighing 385kg, sold for €750 (€1.95/kg).

These two Parthenaise-cross steers, born April 2019 and with an average weight of 375kg, sold for €890 (€2.37/kg).