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There were over 630 cattle on offer at last week’s special show and sale at Gort Mart. Mart manager Bernie Fahey said that once again the quality of cattle on offer at the sale was outstanding and this had a positive effect on the prices on the day.
She added that of the 630 cattle on offer, only 24 went home unsold, which translates to a clearance rate of over 96%.
Heavy bullocks, heifers and cows were a flying trade, with strong demand from factory agents and from finishers. Almost 10 Belgian Blue, Charolais and Limousin bullocks, heifers and cows sold for over €2,000/head.
Bullocks over 600kg sold for €2.40/kg on average, with the top third making over €2.55/kg or €1,670 for 650kg.
There was a share of plainer bullocks on offer also and these sold mainly from €2.05/kg to €2.15/kg and were mostly O+ and R- types.
Forward feeding bullocks over 500kg sold mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.45/kg, with the top third making from €2.50/kg to €2.60/kg with ease. The number of lighter store bullocks wasn’t that large, but demand for these from grass buyers was strong and the quality on offer once again was quite good.
Prices of these ranged mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg, with U grades selling for over €2.60/kg or €1,170 for 450kg.
Heifers over 600kg sold from €2.10/kg for the bottom third, but these were mainly R- and O+ heifers, to €2.68/kg for well-conformed U grades.
Prices averaged at about €2.40/kg or €1,560 for the average 650kg heifer.
Forward store heifers from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg, with prices of over €2.60/kg paid at the top of the market for well-conformed short-keep heifers.
Prices of lighter stores from 400kg to 500kg ranged mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg for average-quality R grade types, while U grades made over €2.60/kg.
The cow trade was strong also. Prices averaged at about €1.80/kg for the average dry suckler cow.
At the upper end of the market, heavy and well-conformed cows made up to €2,050 or €2.45/kg, while the main run saw fleshed cows sell from €700 to €850 over the weight.
Commission rates are €10 to the buyer and 1.5% to 1.7% to the seller.
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