The first dairy sale under the new coronovirus operating procedures at Corrin Mart went ahead without much fuss near Fermoy, Co Cork, on Friday. There were good prices for good-quality young cows, with older cows a more difficult trade.

There was a clearance sale of 28 cows, three maiden heifers and a Hereford stock bull for O-Donnell’s near Mitchelstown. Top price in the clearance sale went to €1,800 for Lot 6, a 2016-born cow. A number of the other young cows in the clearance sale went to €1,600 and €1,700. The older cows (2011- and 2012-born) made between €670 and €800 each. The three maiden heifers made €760, €720 and €700, while the Hereford stock bull made €2,180.

Other quality young cows in the normal dairy sale that took place after the clearance sale made good money also. Lot 63, with an EBI of €128, sired by OYK and born February 2018, made €1,900. The cow in the ring just before her, Lot 62 (€135 EBI), made €1,780. Plenty of third- and fourth-calvers made €1,300 upwards.