While most other marts are starting to see a drop in numbers for the summer months, Kilkenny Mart is holding firm after attracting another entry of nearly 1,000 cattle.

Over 400 of these cattle were bullocks with what must be the last of the light bullocks fit for grazing meeting a very strong trade.

Top-quality lots between 350kg and 500kg demanded strong prices, resulting in an average price exceeding €2.40/kg. Animals fetching these prices were mostly yearling continental-type stock.

Light steers

Top of the lighter steers was a batch of 14-month-old Limousin cross bullocks with an average weight of 393kg selling for €1,040 (€2.65/kg).

As the weights increased, the price per kilo may have dropped, but a lot of steers weighing in the low 400s still easily made it past the €1,000 mark. A pair of 15-month-old Limousin cross bullocks weighing 443kg sold for €1,140 (€2.57/kg).

Dairy

The lighter bullocks of dairy descent saw prices as high as €1.75/kg but the general figure was between €1.50/kg and €1.60/kg.

Heavier bullocks getting close to factory weight again took a hit on price compared with those fit for grass but good continental-style cattle still averaged a healthy €2.20/kg. The best of these was a group of six Belgian Blues with an average weight of 575kg, which sold for €2.38/kg (€1,370).

Overall, the general range for these heavier lots was €1.80/kg to €2.20/kg.

Females

On the female side, a strong entry of lighter heifers didn’t affect trade with most selling in line with last week’s trade.

Heifers weighing between 350kg and 500kg sold for an average of €2.10, with the top one-third of these averaging out at €2.30.

On the female side, a strong entry of lighter heifers didn’t affect trade

Top of the lots was a group of four Limousin cross heifers weighing on average 429kg, which sold for €1,030 (€2.40/kg).

Lighter first-cross dairy heifers out of Angus and Hereford sires reduced the average overall, but sold well at an average of €1.85/kg.

Nearly 150 dry cows went through the ring on the day to average just shy of €1.50/kg.