Last Monday’s sale at Inishowen Livestock Mart saw another large entry of over 565 cattle on offer. Mart manager Harry Molloy said that the number on offer was back a little from the last sale (600 head) where the yard was at capacity.

He added that one feature evident in the last few years has been improved demand from farmers in the south. There was strong feedlot demand on Monday also, but the number of heavy bullocks and heifers on offer has dropped this week. Northern demand is mixed, but generally driven by wholesale finishers in the North and south.

The supply of cattle on offer in the mart are generally good-quality continental types, with some dairy-bred stock mixed through.

Where good-quality continental weanling bulls and bullocks were on offer from 300kg to 350kg, Harry said that prices ranged mainly from €2.90/kg to €3.05/kg for all top-quality types. In the main, prices ranged from €900 to €1,050 for the majority of bulls in that weight range.

Bullocks from 350kg to 450kg sold mainly from €2.60/kg to €2.75/kg, according to Harry, with the average 350kg continental making €950/head. Heavier types over 400kg were a very strong trade also and sold mainly from€2.40/kg to €2.50/kg.

Heavy short-keep bullocks over 600kg were met with very strong demand, with feeders snapping up any that were on offer. Prices of these ranged mainly from €2.15/kg to €2.35/kg for U grades.

Light store heifers from 350kg to 400kg sold from €2.80/kg to a top price of €3.16/kg, with heavier types up to 450kg selling from €2.50/kg to €2.80/kg.

Harry said that a fancy Charolais-cross heifer weighing 430kg made €2.86/kg or €1,230. Heavy heifers over 500kg sold from €2.35/kg to €2.45/kg for good-quality types.

There were 40 cows on offer, which was well back on the previous sale. In terms of prices, Harry said that the majority of cows made close to €2.00/kg as most were fleshed and short-keep types. The top price for a cull cow was €2.30/kg for 650kg. Only a few cows sold for under €1.80/kg.

Commission rates are €8 to the buyer and 1.5% to the seller, with a minimum charge of €10 and a maximum of €15.