IN THE KNOW

Ballinrobe

Last week’s special show and sale of bullocks had an entry of 200 with trade “very positive”.

Bullocks over 500kg averaged €3.00/kg, with a top call of €1,990/hd for two 578kg Limousins, or €3.45/kg.

Bullocks under 500kg averaged €2.95/kg with a 420kg Charolais topping out at €3.43/kg or €1,440.

Castlerea

Numbers across the week reached 700 with a steadily improving trade but “a lot of men looking for lighter cattle”.

Among these lighter types were 450kg Charolais that made €3.44/kg, with 415kg Charolais heifers peaking at €3.57/kg.

Exporter demand was also strong, with average 350kg bulls making €3.40-3.50/kg and the better one €3.80-4.00/ kg. Among the calves, continental runners sold from €390-880/hd, but poor-quality dairy calves were a hard sell.

Kilkenny

Numbers reached 870 with beef in short supply, driving beef bullocks to €2.42-3.42/ kg and heavy heifers to €2.603.05/kg.

Forward bullocks sold from €2.25-3.40/kg, with forward heifers €2.30-3.95/kg. Store prices were strong, with 400500kg bullocks making €1.953.64/kg and light heifers selling for €2.10-3.44/kg.

Price of the day was the €1,380/hd or €4.00/kg paid for two 345kg Limousin bullocks. Friesian cull cows sold for €1.20-2.20/kg with continentals €1.60-2.70/kg.

Listowel

Numbers reached 1,000 over two days with the better weather “a positive all round”.

500-550kg Angus sold for €2.80-3.00/kg, with non-quality assured making €2.75-2.80/ kg.

Angus and Hereford yearlings made €2.70-2.80/kg, with Friesians selling to €2.00/kg. Forward Friesians sold from €2.40-2.50/kg.

Six-week-old Hereford calves made €350-400/hd with two- to three-week-old Angus and Herefords making €200/hd and more on occasion.

Better Friesian calves sold from €100-120/hd but the poorer ones dipped to €5-30/ hd.

Tuam

Last Monday’s sale had close to 400 cattle on offer with Marion Devane reporting a strong trade but numbers less than expected.

Well-fleshed cows generally made €2.40-2.70/kg, with heifers €2.70-3.12/kg, while bullocks mostly sold for €2.903.22/kg.

Marion said constant suckler culling is affecting numbers of better cattle. “We used to have big numbers of the best of weanlings in this area. I wonder are we going back to the days in the 1970s when it was Friesian, Shorthorn and Angus.”