Monday’s cattle sale in Carlow Mart saw the smallest entry for the last four months. Manager Jimmy Walsh said that while numbers were down, there was still a relatively good entry for the time of year, with about 300 head on offer.

Along with numbers slipping, Jimmy said the quality of cattle offered was also down on previous weeks. This was particularly the case for bullocks and heifers, with slaughter-fit animals and good-quality continental stores scarce.

While there was some heavy forward stores, many of these were plainer quality and dairy crossbreds. Jimmy said that average-quality bullocks weighing 520kg to in excess of 600kg sold from €2.15/kg to €2.35/kg on average, with the best-quality lots selling to €2.45/kg.

Friesian bullocks and plain dairy crossbreds with poor weight for age sold back to €1.70/kg to €1.80/kg. Lighter lots were also plain in nature, with average-quality types selling from €2.10/kg to €2.45/kg, while Friesian bullocks sold back to €1.60/kg to €1.70/kg.

Heifers were in tighter supply than bullocks, with a high percentage in the 300kg to 440kg weight bracket. Jimmy reported beef-sired heifers from the dairy herd selling from €2.20/kg to €2.35/kg, with a selection of good-quality Limousin heifers selling to €2.60/kg, while a small number of poorer-quality heifers sold back to €2/kg.

The mart reports a good season for calf sales. Jimmy said there is still lots of demand for calves, with farmers competing with live exporters, who are also active in purchasing beef-sired calves.

The best Limousin, Hereford and continental-bred bull calves sold from €220 to €375, with good-quality heifers selling to €330. Angus bulls and heifers sold in general from €140 to €250, with a few lighter lots back to €100. Stronger Friesian bull calves aged over five weeks sold from €160 to €250, with lighter and plainer lots from €80 to €140.

Cow numbers are also up this year, with Monday’s sale comprising mostly Friesian cows. Prices for cows with a cover of flesh ranged from €1.30/kg to €1.60/kg, with cows lacking flesh selling upwards of €1/kg. A selection of continental cows sold from €1.70/kg to €1.88/kg on average.

There were a handful of cows with calves at foot selling from €1,400 to €1,630.

Commission rates for cattle are €9 to the buyer and €9 to €17 to the seller, depending on sale value.