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There were more than 550 cattle on offer at yesterday’s special show and sale at Kilcullen Mart.
At the time of going to print, the sale was almost halfway through and Jimmy Walsh said the trade was strong and steady for all good-quality types.
He added that the start of the sale saw more of the plainer cattle go under the hammer, which were followed by better-quality types.
As a result the majority of better quality heavy bullocks and heifers are not pictured above. Jimmy said the mart was packed with farmers, with little to no place left to stand.
The highlight of the sale was the auctioning of a top-quality 860kg Charolais bullock, with the sale proceeds going to hospice.
The bullock was purchased by Michael Heffernan of Stradbally, Co Laois, for €2,300 (€2.67/kg). He said the bullock was purchased and provided by a number of local people for the sale.
In the early part of the sale, there was a good entry of heavy continentals bullocks, Jimmy said quality types were a good trade, with several from 585kg to 655kg making from €1,240/head to €1340/head or from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg.
Some good-quality heavier bullocks made from €1,600 to €1,710, which was paid for a top-quality prize winning 670kg steer (€2.55/kg).
Medium weight store bullocks were a good trade also, but Jimmy did outline that plainer types were a little harder sold.
Good-quality continentals from 480kg to 520kg sold frequently for over €1,200/head.
There were some white heads and blacks which made from €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg, about €100/head behind continentals of the same quality.
Some heavy bulls made around €500 to €600 over the weight in the early part of the sale, but these were only average-quality types.
Store heifers were a strong trade also. Jimmy said better-quality types were up a shade on last week, while plainer heifers were back a little.
In terms of prices, store heifers from 350kg to 400kg sold mainly from €400 to €500 along with the weight. Store heifers from 500kg to 600kg made from €1,000 to €1,200, or €500 to €600 along with the weight.
Jimmy said some of the better-quality cattle were not sold at the time of going to print, but he expected for the better-quality heavier types to make up to €1,000 along with the weight. Commission rates are €1.85-€2.00 to the buyer and 1.75% to the seller.
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