There was a large number of lots entered at the general cattle sale on Monday with approximately 550 lots of bullocks, over 300 lots of heifers and about 150 lots of cows. The trade for bullocks and cows remained steady while higher quality heifers demanded a stronger price on last week.

Good quality forward store bullocks, namely Charolais and Limousins, weighing 600kg to 750kg sold from €2.06/kg to €2.26/kg, with the higher quality lots selling to €2.33/kg. There was a strong demand for 2014 born bullocks that are likely to command the QPS bonus on slaughter.

Lighter stores weighing from 440kg to 550kg sold from €2/kg to €2.35/kg for suckler bred continentals. Plainer lots of O grade cattle and dairy crossbreds sold as far back as €1.50/kg.

There was a large demand for young, light stores weighing from 400kg to 500kg that would be ideally suited to finishing on a grass based system in 2016.

Demand for high quality heifers

Heifer prices remained steady on last week with forward stores and heifers fit for slaughter selling from €2.04/kg to €2.25/kg. There was an increased demand for higher quality heifers with some lots commanding prices of up to €2.35/kg. Lighter lots of R and U grade animals sold for €2/kg to €2.30/kg. Dairy crossbreds and plainer animals sold for as little as €1.70/kg.

The cow trade followed much the same trend by remaining similar to last weeks sales. Good quality R grade cows made €1.30 /kg to €1.55/kg. Continental breeds, fit for slaughter and weighing 600kg to 755kg sold at €1.40/kg to €1.97/kg. There was low demand for young and less fleshy cows meaning they sold as low as €1.11/kg to €1.40/kg