Last Thursday’s sale at GVM Mart Tullamore saw a good entry of about 350 cattle on offer. Mart manager Antoinette Daly said that the trade was very strong and a high clearance rate was achieved.

There was a clearance rate of over 95% across the entire sale including cows, steers and heifers, with just two heifers going unsold. Antoinette said that the trade was driven once again by feeders and grass buyers.

There were about 215 bullocks on offer and the trade was strong for all forward types. Those over 600kg sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg for average-quality types or for about €700 to €800 over the weight. Top prices were from €2.50/kg to €2.60/kg.

Forward store bullocks from 500kg to 600kg were a solid trade once again, with plenty of grass buyer activity. Prices ranged from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg or from €600 to €800 over the weight. Plainer Friesians sold from €1.80/kg to €2.00/kg for better-quality fleshed types, while U grade continentals made from €2.50/kg to €2.60/kg.

Lighter stores from 400kg to 500kg were steady and sold for about €2.20/kg on average or for about €430 to €500 over the weight. There were more lesser-quality Friesian cattle in this weight bracket and these sold from €1.50/kg to €2.00/kg. Light stores from 300kg to 400kg sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg, with top-quality types making over €3.00/kg.

The heifer trade saw very few over 600kg, but demand was strong for those on offer.

The main supply of heifers was from 500kg to 600kg and these sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg or from €550 to €650 over the weight. Better-quality types made over €2.30/kg.

Lighter store heifers from 400kg to 500kg were a solid trade and sold mainly from €500 to €600 along with the weight. There were more Angus-crosses from the dairy herd in this bracket of cattle and prices ranged from €1.90/kg to €2.15/kg for these, while top-quality continentals made from €2.40/kg to €2.60/kg.

There was another good entry of cull cows on offer, with the price averaging from €1.40/kg to €1.60/kg, with fleshed continentals making from€1.80/kg to €2.00/kg.

Commission rates are €9 to the buyer and 1.4% to the seller to a max of €16.50/head.

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