There were packed-out ringsides for most of the day on Thursday at Ennis Mart for the annual cattle show and sale.

And there was plenty on offer for all buyers present, with just shy of 1,100 cattle entered, including 300 cull cows. An overall clearance rate of 98% was achieved.

Speaking to mart manager Martin McNamara after the sale, he said that “trade could only be descried as very good”.

While there wasn’t an awful lot of finished cattle on offer, over three-quarters of them would be described as short-keep cattle.

On the flip side, there wasn’t too many light stores for sale either, but that was perhaps expected, given the show element of the day.

Looking across the rings, Martin said: “Bullocks were a good trade, but no better than last week, while heifers were a shade stronger.”

The real noteworthy activity was in the cow ring, with good beef cull cows “a massive trade”.

Prizewinners

Class 1 – one beef bullock, any age, any breed

  • 1st prize – Tom O’Mara, Caher, Co Clare. Lot 6H – a Charolais-cross bullock, born June 2017 and weighing 800kg, which sold for €1,850 (€2.31/kg).
  • 2nd prize – Francis Hynes, Liscannor, Co Clare. Lot 11D – a Charolais-cross bullock, born April 2017 and weighing 875kg, which sold for €1,800 (€2.06/kg).

    • Class 2 – group of two or more beef bullocks, any age, any breed

  • 1st prize – Tom O’Mara, Caher, Co Clare. Lot 6B – a pair of Limousin-cross bullocks, born April and June 2017 and averaging 810kg, which sold for €1,850/head (€2.28/kg).

    • Class 3 - group of two or more store bullocks, any age, any breed, born after 1 January 2018

  • 1st prize – Rory Slattery, Quin, Co Clare. Lot 34 – a pen of five Charolais- and Limousin-cross bullocks, born from January to April 2018 and averaging 639kg, which sold for €1,490/head (€2.33/kg).
  • 2nd prize – Rory Slattery, Quin, Co Clare. Lot 35A – a pair of Limousin-cross bullocks, born February and March 2018 and averaging 662kg, which sold for €1,470/head (€2.22/kg).

    • Class 4 - one heifer born after 1 January 2018

  • 1st prize – John Crowe, Lahinch, Co Clare. Lot 119D – a Limousin-cross heifer, born April 2018 and weighing 630kg, which sold for €1,720 (€2.73/kg).
  • 2nd prize – John Leydon, Liscannor, Co Clare. Lot 117K – a Limousin-cross heifer, born April 2018 and weighing 570kg, which sold for €1,760 (€3.09/kg).

    • Class 5 – one beef heifer any age or breed

  • 1st prize – Noel Griffin, Inagh, Co Clare. Lot 104C – a Belgian Blue-cross heifer, born September 2017 and weighing 650kg, which sold for €1,720 (€2.65/kg).
  • 2nd prize – Sean Hayes, Tulla, Co Clare. Lot 123K – a Belgian Blue-cross heifer, born January 2018 and weighing 615kg, which sold for €1,660 (€2.70/kg).

    • Class 6 – one beef cow, continental breed

  • 1st prize – Michael O’Malley, Cree, Co Clare. Lot 135A – a Limousin-cross cow, born October 2009 and weighing 875kg, which sold for €1,900 (€2.17/kg).
  • 2nd prize – Gerard Meade, Miltown Malbay, Co Clare. Lot 131M – a Charolais-cross cow, born April 2011 and weighing 920kg, which sold for €1,820 (€1.98/kg).

    • Class 7 – one beef cow, non-continental breed

  • 1st prize – Gerard O’Rourke, Crusheen, Co Clare. Lot 138P – a Hereford-cross cow, born March 2007 and weighing 855kg, which sold for €1,360 (€1.59/kg).
  • 2nd prize – Gerry O’Connor, Spancilhill, Co Clare. Lot 132M – a Hereford-cross cow, born February 2011 and weighing 810kg, which sold for €1,180 (€1.46/kg).

    • See the full sale report and pictures inside this week’s Irish Farmers Journal