Monday’s general sale at Kilmallock Mart saw the largest and liveliest trade so far this year. Along with the general cattle sale there was a good entry of dairy stock on offer.

According to Denis Kirby, Golden Vale Marts, the trade for calved cows and heifers was a good bit stronger in the past two weeks.

Prices of better-quality cows were up slightly on recent sales, with prices at the upper end ranging mainly from €1,500 to €1,700, while prices in the main averaged from €1,300 to €1,350/head.

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There were a good number of maiden heifers on offer also and these sold mainly from €750 to €850, with prices of up to €900 paid for top-quality strong heifers.

The main cattle trade on the day was strong, with grass buyers very active for all types of stores. As the mart is in a primarily dairy area, the majority of stock on offer were dairy crosses.

There was more bite in the trade according to Denis, with farmers and exporters quite active. Improved demand meant that dairy-cross weanlings sold mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg, well up on a few weeks ago, driven by farmer and exporter demand.

Friesian weanlings continue to be a slow sell where quality is poor. Good-quality continental weanlings were a strong trade and sold from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg for average-quality types.

The calf sale saw an entry of 630 on offer. With numbers now well back from peak, the majority of calves on offer were Angus- and Hereford-crosses, although there were some Friesian-crosses on offer also.

Angus and Hereford prices continue to be well back on last year, with the majority of Angus bulls and heifers selling mainly from €150 to €220/head.

Farmer buyers were mainly interested in the better-quality types at the sale, while export activity was strong also.

Stronger Hereford calves were met with higher prices than the equivalent Angus and, in many cases, the better-quality calves were selling for well over €250 to €320/head.

Friesian calves are starting to get scarce and prices ranged mainly from €80 to €120, with farmers and exporters still interested in various types.

Commission rates are 1.5% to the seller and €9.30 upwards to the buyer.