This week’s general cattle sale in Nenagh saw a reduced number of cattle on offer – a likely result of good weather and lots of activity in silage and hay fields across the country.

Trade for lighter cattle was steady but heavier lots felt a slight pinch. Dry cows improved slightly for the week.

Bulls and bullocks

Bullocks weighing 400kg to 500kg averaged €1.63/kg for the sale. Friesian lots ranged from €1.22/kg to €1.55/kg while Angus-cross cattle went from €1.62/kg to €1.95/kg. A small number of Limousin lots averaged €2.29/kg.

In the 500kg to 600kg weight band, €1.74/kg was the average price paid, a good average reflecting the higher proportion of continental in the category. Continental crosses made between €1.77/kg and €1.87/kg for the top quality.

Bullocks over 600kg sold for an average price of €1.68/kg. Friesians sold mainly for just over €1.50/kg, while a large selection of Hereford-cross cattle went for between €1.66 /kg and €1.81/kg.

Heifers and cows

Heifers weighing 350kg to 400kg sold for an average price of €1.79/kg. The best on quality came into an average of €1.96/kg while plainer lots sold for closer to €1.50/kg.

In the 400kg to 500kg weight band, good quality heifers made closer to and over €2/kg in some cases. The average price was €1.70/kg, with some plain, dairy-cross lots down below €1.30/kg.

Heifers between 500kg and 600kg averaged €1.64/kg. This category was dominated by Hereford- and Angus-cross cattle and these sold for between €1.35/kg and €1.90/kg.

Looking at dairy-cross cows, the range was €1.26/kg to €1.50/kg or €850 to €1,000/head. A small number of continental cows started at €1.52/kg and top price on the day went to a 650kg Limousin-cross, six-year old, which sold for €1,320.

Nenagh mart

Commission rates are €10 to €15 to the seller and €9 to the buyer.

Analysis for this report was generated from the MartBids app. MartBids is a collaboration between the Irish Farmers Journal and livestock marts. The app is available for download on iPhone or Android on the App Store or Google Play. With this app, all of the information that is displayed on the mart board is now available on your smartphone, long before the animal enters the sales ring.