IN THE KNOW
1 BALLA
While numbers eased back here last week, they still remained significant. In the bullock ring, better continental types over 450kg were the pacesetters. Among the top breeds were 490kg Limousin at €2.52/ kg plus an impressive 580kg Charolais at €2.50/kg. However, plainer-type stock pulled overall averages in the 300-400kg section back to €1.83/kg, with the 400500kg section averaging €2.13/kg. Bullocks over 500kg+ averaged just €2.06/kg. Lighter heifers averaged €2.08/hd, with 400-500kg heifers averaging €2.13/kg, while heavier heifers averaged €2.08/kg.
2 ENNIS
Numbers here cracked on into the realm of the ’serious’, which didn’t help the trade as combined with a fall-off in customer numbers, prices were pulled back. That said, better bullocks over 450kg saw some tasty prices. Samples included two 625kg Charolais that sold for €2.39/kg, a 515kg Limousin at €2.56/kg, and two 505kg Charolais at €2.52/kg. Among the best of the lighter bullocks were three 417kg Limousins that made €2.64/kg. The heifer trade held up well, with samples seeing three 522kg Charolais making €2.24/kg, a 400kg Limousin selling for €3.05/kg, and seven 389kg Charolais making €2.44/kg.
3 CASTLEREA
This sale of sucklers, heifers and weanlings saw numbers swell. However, at a time when the suckler family is under pressure, the price range of €2,920-€4,160/ hd achieved by six in-calf continental cows with continental calves at foot, shows that some continue to keep the faith. The heifer prices included a 600kg Charolais that made €2.32/kg, a 400kg Limousin at €2.62/kg and a 460kg Limousin at €2.53/kg. Weanling bulls saw the price bar being set at €3.17/kg by 285kg Charolais, while on the weanling heifer side, you had a 280kg Charolais clicking €3.20/kg as farmer interest pushed prices across both sections.
4 KILKENNY
A tough sale, with many customers now having filled their autumn/winter order books, combined with stock not looking their best due to the recent wet weather. A majority of both quality bullocks and heifers sold from €2.15-€2.35/kg, with George Candler commenting that prices in excess of €2.50/kg were now the “exception”. Best of the bullock stores saw a 475kg Charolais make €2.57/kg, with four 435kg Limousin heifers that made €2.52/kg the best on that side. In the cull cow section, continental cull cows sold from €1.10-€1.90/kg, with Friesian culls making from €0.70-€1.50/kg.
5 CARNEW
Last week’s weanling sale saw a big entry with prices for the best of the best seeing a 288kg Belgian Blue bull making €3.68/kg, which is €1,060. Overall, strong demand from finishers for those better bulls saw the heavier 400kg+ bull sell from €770-€1,285/hd, with bulls under 400kg making €560-€ 1,110/hd. Among the heifers, those over 400kg sold for €730€1,350/hd, with lighter heifers making from €1,110/hd.
6 BALLINROBE
As elsewhere, quality lots sold away well, while the plainer cattle were a significantly lesser trade. Sample prices on the heifer side saw a 505kg Limousincross making €2.62/kg, a 385kg Belgian Blue-cross selling for €2.77/kg, and a 370kg Aberdeen Angus making €2.45/kg. On the bullock side, two 787kg Charolais clicked €2.29/kg, while a black 495kg Limousin saw the hammer fall at €2.62/kg. There was also a strong show of cull cows, with top call of the day, €1.77/kg, going to a 755kg Limousin.
7 BLESSINGTON
Beef and forward store bullocks sold from €500-€880/hd over €1/kg, with store bullocks over 500kg making €460-€750 over €1/kg. Stores from 300-500kg sold for €280-€630 over the weight. Beef and forward heifers made €460-€790 over the €1/kg, while store heifers sold for €300€550 over the €1/kg. Among the calves, Friesian bulls made €55-€110/hd, with Hereford and Angus bulls selling for €120€240/hd. Continental bulls sold for €160€300/hd. Hereford and Angus heifer calves made €90-€150/hd, while continental heifer reached a top of €245/hd.