July has traditionally been the quietest month for mart sales, with some centres transferring to fortnightly sales or seeing activity reduce to minimum levels.

Trade to date in July has gone against this trend in some marts, with the bigger sale venues in particular benefitting from higher sale entries.

Throughput is being helped by the ending of brucellosis testing and strong demand from factory agents attracting significantly higher numbers of cows through mart sales.

Many marts are also holding one-off special autumn-born weanling sales to provide a sales outlet to breeders of these animals.

These sales are performing well, with specialist bull-beef finishers, buoyed by firm beef prices, very active in sourcing good-quality bulls.

Continental bulls weighing 400kg to 470kg with potential to easily kill into U grades are selling from €2.35/kg to €2.50/kg, with the best-quality lots exceeding this level.

Lesser-quality bulls are still meeting a good trade, with R grades from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg, while O grading rougher-type bulls are selling back to €2.00/kg.

Demand for similarly aged quality bulls that are falling below this weight category is being helped by strong farmer demand.

Steers

The best demand remains for good-quality continental steers with age on their side and potential to slaughter at less than 30 months of age. Good-quality lots weighing 450kg to 550kg are selling from €2.30/kg to €2.55/kg on average for R and U grading lots. Angus and Hereford types are making from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg on average, with lesser-quality O grading types selling back to €2/kg. 2016- born Friesian steers are selling in general from €1.75/kg to €1.90/kg, depending on weight and quality.

Heifers

Heifers are following a similar trend to steers, with heavy forward-store and slaughter-fit heifers in tight supply. Good-quality lots weighing 400kg to 500kg are selling from €2.25/kg to €2.45/kg on average for R and U grading lots, with best-quality lots rising to and exceeding €2.50/kg. Small numbers of heavier slaughter-fit heifers are selling from €2.00/kg to €2.15/kg for O grading lots and up to €2.25/kg to €2.30/kg for better-quality types. Some marts are starting to see higher numbers of dairy crossbred heifers finished at light weights.

Weanlings

Weanlings are appearing in small numbers, with bulls coming on offer being generally strong lots aged nine to 12 months of age. Lighter lots continue to meet strong demand from farmers, with light bullocks commanding a premium over bulls due to the difficulty in castrating animals at this stage of the year. Prices for bulls weighing 300kg to 370kg range from €2.60/kg to €2.80/kg, with top-quality lots and shipping types hitting €3/kg. Friesian bulls are selling from €1.70/kg for lesser quality lots to €1.95/kg on average.