While special sales have recorded strong throughput, it is only in the last week to 10 days that general sales have gained real momentum.

The store bullock trade is solid, with 500kg to 600kg bullocks selling from €1.73/kg for the bottom third of animals to €2.31/kg for the top third lots.

The best store demand is for 2013-born animals that will be fit for slaughter under 30 months of age, although an easing in specifications in recent weeks has seen the differential close from over €100 per head to €50 to €60 per head for similar weight/quality animals.

A large differential remains between dairy-bred and continental-bred stock. Friesian store bullocks range in general from €1.50/kg to €1.60/kg, with better-quality British Friesian-types selling to a top of €1.75/kg on average.

Year-on-year, the bottom third of animals traded are running 7c to 10c/kg behind last year’s level, or €35 to €50 on a 500kg bullock.

Average and top-third animals are running 10c to 15c/kg behind last year, or €50 to €75 per head on a 500kg bullock.

500kg+ heifers are trading from an average of €2/kg to €2.25/kg for R and U grade forward and slaughter-fit heifers.

Lesser-quality lots are selling back to €1.80/kg for overage and poorly conformed types.

The trade for slaughter-fit heifers and bullocks has been boosted by an increase in activity from Northern agents buying predominately for the wholesale and butcher trade in the North and UK.

Average heifer prices are running 10c to 20c/kg behind the same week in 2013.

The weanling trade is strong, with many mart managers reporting higher volumes of March and April-born weanlings coming on stream in the last week.

Prices, unlike stores, are largely comparable year-on-year.

Good-quality R and U grading bulls in the 300kg to 400kg brackets are largely selling from €2.20/kg to €2.60/kg, with small numbers of the highest-quality lots and live export types reaching and topping €3.00/kg.

Heavier bulls suitable for 16-month bull beef systems are selling from €2.10/kg to €2.40/kg.

The heifer trade is also brisk, with R grade 300kg to 400kg lots selling from €2/kg to €2.30/kg, with U grades selling to €2.50/kg.