Some plainer types including plain dairy crosses were a slightly weaker trade at times. However, this was mainly in the heifer ring. Plainer light bulls were quite strong again, underpinned by exporter demand.

Bullocks over 600kg were low in numbers but continue to be a very strong trade; they were up slightly on last week. The average 650kg steer sold from €700 to €870 over the weight. There was a good entry of forward stores from 500kg to 600kg on offer and they were a solid trade. They sold mainly from €600 to €750 along with the weight for average-quality continentals. The best-quality types sold to over €800 along with the weight. Light stores were fairly abundant and sold mainly from €600 to €740 along with the weight for average-quality cattle.

This Charolais bullock born May 2015 and weighing 590kg sold for €1,440 (€2.44/kg).

There were plenty of weanling bulls on offer, and some heavy bulls also. Forward bulls over 450kg were a good trade, with specialist finishers continuing to be active for these. Prices ranged mainly from €1,000 to €1,150. Average-quality continentals from 300kg to 400kg sold from €2.35/kg to €2.60/kg, while top-quality cattle sold for more than €3.00/kg.

This Limousin cross heifer born April 2016 and weighing 630kg sold for €1,590 (€2.52/kg).

There was a good entry of heifers once again, and the trade for all good-quality types was firm, with heavy heifers a little better than last week. Heavy types sold from €1,450 to €1,600, while those from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €1,100 to €1,400. Heifers from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €900 to €1,100 for average-quality types. Heifers from 300kg to 400kg sold mainly from €750 to €900 depending on weight. Those under 300kg sold mainly from €2.70/kg to €2.80/kg, with top-quality lots selling for more than €3.10/kg.

Thin feeding cows sold from €200 to €350 along with the weight, while fleshed types sold from €550 to €650 over, with some heavy good-quality cows making over €2.00/kg.

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In pictures: exporters active for younger stock up to 320kg at Gortatlea

Cattle prices: numbers and quality dropping but prices holding firm at marts