Last Friday’s special show and sale of beef and store cattle at Gort Mart saw a large entry of over 770 bullocks, heifers and cows on offer. According to mart manager Bernie Fahey, demand was extremely strong, with buyers from over 20 counties present.

In terms of the stand-outs from the sale, there was a full clearance of the cull cows, with the highest price paid being for the prizewinning beef cow, a 1,040kg Limousin which was knocked down at €2,170 or €2.09/kg.

This Charolais cross heifer, born October 2017 and weighing 765kg sold for €2,000 (€2.61/kg).

In total, there were almost 80 cull cows on offer, which were met with brisk demand. Other heavy cows over 800kg sold mainly from €1,340 to €1,700/head. The majority of cows from 650kg to 750kg sold mainly from €400 to €600 along with the weight, with one well-muscled Belgian Blue cow making €945 over the weight. Slighter feeding cows from 600kg to 650kg sold mainly from €300 to €400 along with the weight.

Beef bullocks were met with extremely strong demand and, as a result, there was a full clearance of those from 550kg upwards.

This Limousin cross heifer, born July 2018 and weighing 410kg sold for €915 (€2.23/kg).

The show champion was a 920kg Belgian Blue bullock, which sold for €2,210.

Heavy bullocks over 800kg were a strong trade and sold from €2.10/kg to €2.40/kg. Those from 700kg to 800kg sold for about €2.15/kg on average, with U grades making €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg.

Forward stores from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg for average types, with better-quality bullocks making over €2.50/kg.

Like bullocks, heavy heifers over 700kg were a very strong trade and sold for over €3.00/kg at the top of the market.

This Charolais cross heifer, born March 2018 and weighing 680kg sold for €1,550 (€2.28/kg).

Average-quality R grade beef heifers sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg, with better-quality heifers making from €2.40/kg upwards.

There was a large entry of over 55 heifers on offer from 600kg to 700kg. These sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg for average-quality R grades.

This Charolais cross heifer, born march 2018 and weighing 660kg sold for €1,480 (€2.24/kg).

Heifers from 500kg to 600kg sold from €1,150 to €1,250 for average types, with up to €1,450 paid for well-muscled types. Heifers from 400kg to 500kg were a strong trade, with prices ranging mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg for R grades and up to €2.65/kg for U grades.

Commission rates are €10 to the buyer and 1.75% to the seller.

This Charolais cross heifer, born February 2018 and weighing 625kg sold for €1,320 (€2.11/kg).
This Charolais cross heifer, born March 2018 and weighing 740kg sold for €1,900 (€2.57/kg).

This Limousin cross bullock, born May 2018 and weighing 535kg sold for €1,280 (€2.39/kg).

This Charolais cross bullock, born February 2018 and weighing 745kg sold for €1,650 (€2.21/kg).

This Limousin cross bullock, born February 2018 and weighing 530kg sold for €1,320 (€2.49/kg).

This Limousin cross bullock, born April 2018 and weighing 555kg sold for €1,330 (€2.40/kg).

This prize winning Belgian Blue cross bullock, born September 2017 and weighing 920kg sold for €2,210 (€2.40/kg).