IN THE KNOW
1KILFENORA
This show and sale of weanling bulls brought buyers from near and far and they were not disappointed by the quality of the stock served up by the farmers of Kilfenora. Top price per kg went to a 305kg Charolais bull that rung up €3.70 or a hugely impressive €1,130. Many of the lighter weight top-end bulls hit around the €3.10-3.40/kg mark. Among the heavier, the best Limousins in the 415-485kg range made €2.64-2.94/kg, while a 505kg Blonde Aquitaine cross hit €2.50/kg.
2CASTLEREA
Another mart with a show and sale of weanlings last week was Castlerea, with some of the prices being real crackers. For example, the €3.94/kg paid for a 340kg Charolais bull, and back to the €3.12/kg made by a 455kg Charolais. On the heifer side, a 310kg Limousin was the red ribbon winner clocking €5.45/kg — no doubt a show animal bought to breed more winners. Among the heavier commercial heifers was a 480kg Charolais that sold for €2.60/ kg, and a 615kg Charolais at €2.30/kg. Continental runner calves saw their prices improve with prices ranging from €250/hd to €745/hd.
3KILRUSH
Trade held firm over all. Sample prices for bullocks included four 381kg Herefords that made €2.02/kg, two 445kg Friesians at €1.65/kg, and a 445kg Aberdeen Angus at €1.69/kg. Prices among the heifers saw Herefords of 380-390kgs sell for €1.74-1.77/kg. The cull cow trade peaked at €1.50/kg, with better Friesians making up to €1.26/kg.
4BALLINAKILL
Trade here saw prices move upwards on the back of increased farmer and feeder interest. Heavy bullocks sold for €1.95-2.35/kg, with forward stores making €1.90-2.50/kg, while lighter stores made €2.00-2.75/kg. On the heifer side, beef heifers made €2.00-2.45/kg, with store heifers selling to a top of €3.00/kg off a base of €2.10/kg. Weanling bulls sold for €1.95-2.85/kg, with weanling heifers making €2.05-3.00/kg. Dry cows made €1.20-1.95/kg.
5KILKENNY
Big sales continue down Kilkenny way with George Candler reporting the trade steady for both continental bullocks and heifers, while cull cows and plainer light stores with dairy influence continued to be a difficult sell. Prices for 600kg+ bullocks ranged from €1.75/kg to €2.25/kg, with the 500-600kg bullock averaging €1.50-2.70/ kg. In the 400-500kg bullock section, prices averaged €1.40-2.65/kg, with lighter stores making €1.30-2.60/kg. Beef heifers made €2.00-2.60/kg, with lighter heifers selling for €1.70-2.50/kg. Friesian cull cows dipped to a low of 0.70c/kg, with the tops making €1.60/kg. Continental cows sold for €1.20-1.95/kg.
6RAPHOE
Numbers here were also big last week with the trade for the better animal in particular staying strong. Beef bullocks sold for €750-765/hd over the €1/kg, with stores making €400-765/hd over the €1/ kg. Beef heifers made €530-940/hd over the €1/kg, while store heifers ranged from €350/hd to €820/hd with their weight. Fat cows sold for €600-1,645/hd.
7KANTURK
The surge for the first day of the Ploughing saw numbers here fall off quite dramatically last week, resulting in a far stronger buying trade. Prices from the sheets included two 577kg Aberdeen Angus bullocks who clicked €1,055/hd, four 550kg Herefords at €975/hd and six 485kg Friesians at €790/hd. On the heifer side, there were six 435kg Angus at €780/ hd and two 547kg Limousins who saw the hammer fall at €1,150/hd. Among the cull cows were a 690kg Charolais who made €1,180 and a 635kg Friesian at €710.