The trade for cull cows was strong, particularly for heavy and forward types.

The top-priced cow on the day was a smashing 925kg animal that made €2,240. Several other top-quality heavy cows made over €2,000 also.

This top-quality 925kg Limousin cow sold for €2,240 (€2.42/kg).

Old, thin and light cows were a reasonably steady trade, but in some cases prices of the poorest types were down near €1.20/kg to €1.30/kg.

Most feeding cows sold from €1.60/kg to €1.70/kg, with heavy and slaughter-fit cows making from €1.85/kg to €1.95/kg.

This 650kg 2011-born Shorthorn cross cow sold for €1,260 (€1.94/kg).

This 780kg 2005-born Simmental cross cow sold for €1,100 (€1.41/kg).

Bullocks

The bullock trade was firm.

Heavy bullocks over 650kg that were slaughter-fit or close to slaughter-fit were a strong and steady trade.

This 335kg April 2016-born Charolais cross bullock sold for €950 (€2.84/kg).

This 765kg April 2015-born Limousin cross bullock was bid to €1,450 but not sold (€1.90/kg).

This 445kg November 2016-born Charolais cross bullock sold for €1,100 (€2.47/kg).

Prices ranged mainly from €700 to €850 over the weight.

Bullocks from 500kg to 600kg were a little slower to sell, with feeders not as inclined to pay quite as much as was paid over the past few weeks.

As a result, clearance rates at times were a little lower than last year. Prices of these ranged mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg for average-quality types and up to €2.45/kg for U grades.

Stores from 400kg to 500kg were a good trade once again, with plenty of buyers present for all types.

Plainer cattle continue to be a weaker trade but there were buyers for all types.

Heifers

The heifer ring saw another good trade for all good-quality heavy heifers. There were plenty of buyers present once again.

These four Charolais cross heifers, born April 2016 and weighing 380kg on average, sold for €1,070 each (€2.82/kg).

This 430kg February 2016-born Belgian Blue cross heifer sold for €840 (€1.95/kg).

Those over 500kg sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg, with top-quality types making over €2.55/kg.

This 505kg March 2016-born Belgian Blue cross heifer was bid to €1,290 but not sold (€2.55/kg).

Store heifers from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €500 to €650 over the weight for average-quality types, with top-quality heifers making over €750 along with the weight.

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