There were plenty of farmer buyers and dealers active which saw prices improve by up to €50 per head. In the cow ring the trade was steady, with plain feeding types the slowest to sell. Mart manager Michael Murphy said a good supply of grass has helped buyer activity in recent weeks.

Forward bullocks over 600kg were an improved trade and sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg for R grades, with better quality U grades making over €2.35/kg or over €1,500/head for the best heavy bullocks. Farmers and feeders were active for stores from 500kg to 600kg.

Those that were ticking all the boxes on movements, age and weight were making the best prices. Average quality R grades sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg, with better quality U grade types making from €2.35/kg to €2.45/kg or €1,250 to €1,350 for top-quality U grades.

The quality of store bullocks on offer was very good, with most steers being R+ and U grades. Where plainer types and traditional breeds were on offer, prices had improved on last week also.

Heifer trade

The heifer trade was similar to the steer trade, with prices improving by 5c/kg to 10c/kg on last week for better-quality heifers. Heifers over 550kg sold mainly from €1,150 to €1,250 per head. Top-quality heifers around the same weight made from €2.35/kg upwards.

Lighter store heifers were met with firm demand; again many farmers were active for feeding heifers and those that can be turned back to grass for cheap weight gain before housing. Those from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €950 to €1,150/head. The top third sold from €2.40/kg to €2.55/kg or from €1,050 to €1,275 depending on weight.

Weanling makes €1,250

The trade for weanlings was said to be up on last week also. Bulls over 400kg were a firm trade, with feeders still active and paying from €2.35/kg to €2.45/kg for average quality R+ grade bulls, while U grades were making over €2.60/kg or €1,250 for 480kg.

The main demand for weanlings from 300kg to 400kg saw prices of €450 to €550 over the weight for average-quality types and from €550 to €700 along with the weight for top-quality types. Bulls from 200kg to 300kg sold from 2.40/kg to €2.60/kg for average-quality types, while the top third made from €2.80/kg to €3.00/kg.

Weanling heifers sold at similar prices to the equivalent bull. Heifers from 300kg to 400kg sold from €2.25/kg to €2.40/kg with U grade heifers making up to €2.65/kg.

Lighter heifers from 200kg to 300kg were a solid trade but numbers on offer remain small. Prices of €2.50/kg to €2.65/kg for average quality types and up to €3/kg for top-quality types were common.

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