Cows were a roaring trade in Bandon on Monday, with bullocks performing solidly. Poor weather conditions meant numbers of store bullocks weren’t as strong as the corresponding sale last year, with 240 on offer.

Forward stores made up a good proportion of the sale with most selling well but age and number of movements reduced options for some.

Hereford and Angus bullocks made €350 to €650 with their weight, while prices for continental bullocks made up to €700 over the €/kg.

There was a solid demand for Frieisans, with heavier stores selling from €250 up to €505 with their weight.

Bullocks sample prices

  • Four Charolais, 421kg – €1,000, €2.38/kg
  • Five Angus, 494kg – €1,075, €2.18/kg.
  • Two Hereford, 545kg – €1,090, €2/kg.
  • Five Friesian, 605kg – €1,110, €1.83/kg.
  • Six Friesian, 405kg – €670, €1.65/kg.
  • Six Angus, 391kg – €835, €2.14/kg.

    • Cows

    In the dry cow sale, animals that needed a few months at grass were generally making between €150 to €220 over the €/kg. Fleshed cows were a roaring trade, with €300 with their weight freely available and many making from €1.40/kg to €1.60/kg. There was a shake extra available for young cows after having one calf.

    Given the current fodder issues on farms, offloading culls may be a sensible option to take given the current trade. Cow prices ranged from €15 under for thinner cows with finished cows making up to €670 with their weight.

    Cow prices

  • One Charolais, 910kg – €1,580, €1.74/kg.
  • One Friesian, 700kg – €1,090, €1.56/kg.
  • One Friesian, 665kg – €960, €1.44/kg.
  • One Friesian, 630kg – €940, €1.49/kg.
  • One Friesian, 555kg – €930, €1.68/kg.

    • Calves

    This week's calf sale saw 1,800 calves on offer. Hereford and Angus calves outnumbered the Friesians, with most of what was on offer strong calves in the 22 to 38 days age bracket. Prices for the most part were solid.

    Export-type Friesian bull calves sold for between €70 to €130. Older Friesian bulls were sought after by farmer buyers and made up to €220.

    Continentals were thin on the ground but, as ever, met with good demand. Heifers sold from €200 up to €410, while continental bulls made form €290 up to €450/head.

    Traditional beef breed-cross bull calves from Friesian cows sold for between €170 and €415. Hereford and Angus heifers sold for between €110 and €350.

    Lighter lots of traditional cross heifer calves were a tougher trade at times. These were making similar money and on occasion less than export-type Friesian bull calves.

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