Camera at the Mart: beef holding a firm trade in Roscrea

Despite the imminent winddown for the festive season, Central Auctions, Roscrea, enjoyed a large sale of just under 540 cattle at its weekly cattle sale on Friday.

A mix of Northern Irish buyers and factory customers with competition from farmers led to a strong trade, while the recent improvement in factory prices was also well reflected in the trade on Friday.

Forward bullocks were met with a brisk trade, with demand exceeding supply for both suckler-bred and dairy beef types.

Some sample prices include a Friesian bullock weighing 620kg selling for €1,510 (€2.44/kg), Hereford-cross bullocks topping out at €1,800 for a lot of two weighing 650kg (€2.77/kg) and four Limousin-cross bullocks weighing 692kg that sold for €1,900 (€2.75/kg).

The lighter types also sold freely, including two top-quality Aberdeen Angus-crosses weighing 560kg that sold for €1,560 (€2.79/kg).

The factory-fit and forward heifers were a similar trade to the bullocks, with quality lots consistently making premium prices.

Some sample lots included an Angus-cross heifer weighing 655kg selling for €1,800 (€2.75/kg), a Charolais heifer weighing 735kg selling for €2,080 (€2.83/kg) and a 705kg Shorthorn heifer selling for €1,700 (€2.41/kg).

In line with the current trends all over the country, cull cows witnessed a good lift in the trade for both dairy and continental offerings.

Friesians made up to €1,220, which was paid for a well-fleshed cow weighing 740kg (€1.65/kg), with plenty of the better-conditioned types making in excess of €1.55/kg.

Continental cows sold to highs of €1,880, which was paid for a Limousin cow weighing 830kg (€2.27/kg).

Other notable prices included an 875kg Limousin cow selling for €1,820 (€2.08/kg) and an Angus cow weighing 780kg selling for €1,700 (€2.18/kg).

Roscrea Mart will return with its annual show and sale of heifers on 5 January, its weanling show and sale on 10 January and its highly anticipated show and sale of bullocks on 12 January.