The main camera at the mart was at last Friday’s special fatstock show and sale at Roscrea Mart. There was an entry of almost 500 head on offer and a clearance rate of almost 90% was achieved.

The bullock sale saw some very heavy bullocks on offer. The top price on the day was €2,840, which was received for an 1,130kg Charolais bullock (€2.51/kg), born in 2014.

Other good-quality bullocks over 800kg sold from €2.06/kg to €2.42/kg, with top-quality younger bullocks the strongest trade.

Factory agents were particularly active at the sale, snapping up all good-quality fleshed and slaughter-fit cattle. As a result they kept a firm floor under prices.

Those from 600kg to 750kg sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg, with top-quality slaughter-fit types making from €2.40/kg to €2.47/kg.

Farmers were active for all types of stores also, with some feeders buying to replenish supplies in sheds.

Bullocks from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €2.05/kg to €2.15/kg, with U grades making over €2.20/kg. Lighter store bullocks from 400kg to 500kg were met with strong demand from farmers for all types, but the numbers on offer were low.

Average-quality continental bullocks sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg, with better-quality types making up to €2.74/kg. Plainer cattle in the same weight range sold from €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg.

There was a good entry of heavy bulls on offer also, with feeders active at the ringside. Those from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly for about €2.20/kg on average, with top-quality bulls making up to €2.80/kg. Plainer types sold from €1.90/kg to €2.10/kg. Heavier bulls over 600kg sold from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg on average. Again, specialist feeders were the main buyers for these.

Heifers over 500kg sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg, with better-quality types making from €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg for choice lots. Better-quality and short-keep types were snapped up by finishers, with farmers sourcing stores to finish off grass later in the year.

Lighter heifers from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €2.25/kg to €2.35/kg for average-quality types and up to €2.56/kg for better-quality U grade types. Commission rates are €9 to the buyer and €10 to €15 to the seller.