Kilkenny Mart hosted its biggest sale of the year on Thursday, with nearly 1,000 cattle packing the yards.
The mart would usually see this peak in March or April, but with the cancellations of all marts due to COVID-19, a backlog is now appearing.
Bidders also relayed a message of more confidence in the online and ringside bidding in operation since last week.
Big entry
A big entry of dry cows met a steady demand, with average prices paid just shy of €1.50/kg.
Heavier continental-type cows saw a stronger demand, with the top lots coming into €1.90/kg to €2.10/kg.
Top of these was a Charolais-cross cow weighing 715kg, which sold for €1,490.
Looking at the heifer trade, top lots maintained their prices well, with some coming into €2.50/kg.
That said, the large entry meant that the bottom tier of stock were harder sold across all weight sections.
Lighter, younger heifers fit for a summer at grass or breeding took all the top prices. Leading the way was a 13-month-old Simmental-cross heifer weighing 420kg which sold for €1,080.
Steers
Steers were a similar story, while top lots held their money well due to the big numbers forward lesser lots paid the price.
Across the weight divisions, prices were back 10c to 20c/kg on the week. The exception to this was the factory-fit bullocks that held their price of about €2/kg.
The top end of lighter bullocks were also hitting the €2.50/kg mark, with a top price of €2.54/kg for a group of 13-month-old Limousin-cross steers weighing 393kg on average.
Two 16-month-old Friesian bullocks with an average weight of 445kg sold for €740.
This smashing cow and calf pair came on the market at €1,800. The 12-year-old cow had a three-week-old heifer calf at foot.
This 14-month-old Hereford-cross heifer weighed 405kg and sold for €870.
Three yearling Limousin bullocks with an average weight of 402kg sold for €1,000 apiece.
This 655kg Limousin-cross dry cow sold for €1,160.
This 16-year-old 660kg Hereford-cross dry cow sold for €900.
This 610kg Limousin-cross dry cow sold for €920.
This powerful Simmental-cross dry cow weighing 690kg sold for €1,120.
This purebred Simmental bull, born October 2017 and weighing 780kg, sold for €1,440.
This purebred Charolais bull, born in 2014 and weighing 1,095kg, traded for €1,600.
This 800kg Angus-cross dry cow born in 2012 sold for €1,330.
This 11-month-old Limouisn-cross bullock weighing 385kg sold for €760.
This 11-month-old Limouisn-cross bullock weighing 450kg sold for €910.
This 2017-born Limousin-cross heifer weighing 590kg sold for €1,020.
Kilkenny Mart hosted its biggest sale of the year on Thursday, with nearly 1,000 cattle packing the yards.
The mart would usually see this peak in March or April, but with the cancellations of all marts due to COVID-19, a backlog is now appearing.
Bidders also relayed a message of more confidence in the online and ringside bidding in operation since last week.
Big entry
A big entry of dry cows met a steady demand, with average prices paid just shy of €1.50/kg.
Heavier continental-type cows saw a stronger demand, with the top lots coming into €1.90/kg to €2.10/kg.
Top of these was a Charolais-cross cow weighing 715kg, which sold for €1,490.
Looking at the heifer trade, top lots maintained their prices well, with some coming into €2.50/kg.
That said, the large entry meant that the bottom tier of stock were harder sold across all weight sections.
Lighter, younger heifers fit for a summer at grass or breeding took all the top prices. Leading the way was a 13-month-old Simmental-cross heifer weighing 420kg which sold for €1,080.
Steers
Steers were a similar story, while top lots held their money well due to the big numbers forward lesser lots paid the price.
Across the weight divisions, prices were back 10c to 20c/kg on the week. The exception to this was the factory-fit bullocks that held their price of about €2/kg.
The top end of lighter bullocks were also hitting the €2.50/kg mark, with a top price of €2.54/kg for a group of 13-month-old Limousin-cross steers weighing 393kg on average.
Two 16-month-old Friesian bullocks with an average weight of 445kg sold for €740.
This smashing cow and calf pair came on the market at €1,800. The 12-year-old cow had a three-week-old heifer calf at foot.
This 14-month-old Hereford-cross heifer weighed 405kg and sold for €870.
Three yearling Limousin bullocks with an average weight of 402kg sold for €1,000 apiece.
This 655kg Limousin-cross dry cow sold for €1,160.
This 16-year-old 660kg Hereford-cross dry cow sold for €900.
This 610kg Limousin-cross dry cow sold for €920.
This powerful Simmental-cross dry cow weighing 690kg sold for €1,120.
This purebred Simmental bull, born October 2017 and weighing 780kg, sold for €1,440.
This purebred Charolais bull, born in 2014 and weighing 1,095kg, traded for €1,600.
This 800kg Angus-cross dry cow born in 2012 sold for €1,330.
This 11-month-old Limouisn-cross bullock weighing 385kg sold for €760.
This 11-month-old Limouisn-cross bullock weighing 450kg sold for €910.
This 2017-born Limousin-cross heifer weighing 590kg sold for €1,020.
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