While numbers of stock were back, almost 500 cattle were still on offer last Thursday in Kilkenny Mart.
In total, 474 cattle went through the ring, with all but 12 finding a new home.
These numbers are back about 250 on the same sale in 2020, with much attributed to the rising cull cow price at the factory.
This pair of Simmental bullocks born spring 2019 weighed 600kg and sold for €1,310 (€2.18/kg).
This rise in price also meant that factory agents were very active online to secure the cull cow lots on offer.
In total, 137 cull cows were offered, selling for an average of €1.45/kg, up 11c on the week.
This average price rose to €1.66/kg for the upper end of lots.
This batch of four Charolais bullocks born spring 2019 weighed 610kg and sold for €1,460 (€2.39/kg).
While a number of continental cull cows helped to boost this higher average, the majority of lots through the ring were of dairy descent.
Topping cull cow trade was a seven-year-old Blonde cow that weighed 790kg and sold for €1,640 (€2.08/kg).
A number of Limousin suckler dry cows – both fit and short-keep – pushed up to the €2/kg mark.
This April 2019-born Charolais bullock weighed 705kg and sold for €1,600 (€2.27/kg).
Top of the dairy dry cows was fit young stock, which topped at €1.67/kg.
A good number of forward continental steers helped to raise the bullock average for 600kg-plus to €2.11/kg.
The top third of these lots saw the average price rise to a strong €2.34/kg.
This 20-month-old Charolais bullock weighed 600kg and sold for €1,440 (€2.40/kg).
As mentioned, this was led by a number of strong Charolais and Limousin steers, which hit up to €2.40/kg.
Short-keep bullocks
It was a similar story for short-keep bullocks, with Charolais cattle reaching a high of €2.29/kg.
The number of fit heifers forward were light on the ground and the majority of those that were there were first-cross dairy beef.
This November 2019-born Limousin bullock weighed 485kg and sold for €960 (€1.98/kg).
This was led by a Limousin-cross born in spring 2019 that weighed 610kg and sold for €1,360 (€2.23/kg).
In the short-keep category for heifers between 500kg and 600kg, continental stock were in more supply, which again topped around the €2.40/kg mark.
Lighter steers and heifers were generally making the €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg mark.
This 14-month-old Limousin bull weighed 485kg and sold for €930 (€1.92/kg).
Speaking after the sale, mart manager Michael Lynch said: “Numbers weren’t as high as last year, but more stock are coming out week on week, which is encouraging.
“We had a right good December, which may be affecting numbers slightly also.
“That said, there was very strong prices for all types, with buyers quite anxious, particularly for the fitter animal, with factory agents and finishers willing to pay.”
This pair of Hereford bullocks born spring 2018 weighed 613kg and sold for €1,150 (€1.88/kg).
This 21-month-old Limousin bullock weighed 525kg and sold for €1,000 (€1.90/kg).
This 2013-born Friesian cow weighed 625kg and sold for €790 (€1.26/kg).
This four-year-old Friesian cow weighed 500kg and sold for €670 (€1.34/kg).
This batch of seven Friesian bullocks rising to two-years-old weighed 502kg and sold for €910 (€1.81/kg).
Read more
Listen: Farm Tech Talk livestock podcast
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While numbers of stock were back, almost 500 cattle were still on offer last Thursday in Kilkenny Mart.
In total, 474 cattle went through the ring, with all but 12 finding a new home.
These numbers are back about 250 on the same sale in 2020, with much attributed to the rising cull cow price at the factory.
This pair of Simmental bullocks born spring 2019 weighed 600kg and sold for €1,310 (€2.18/kg).
This rise in price also meant that factory agents were very active online to secure the cull cow lots on offer.
In total, 137 cull cows were offered, selling for an average of €1.45/kg, up 11c on the week.
This average price rose to €1.66/kg for the upper end of lots.
This batch of four Charolais bullocks born spring 2019 weighed 610kg and sold for €1,460 (€2.39/kg).
While a number of continental cull cows helped to boost this higher average, the majority of lots through the ring were of dairy descent.
Topping cull cow trade was a seven-year-old Blonde cow that weighed 790kg and sold for €1,640 (€2.08/kg).
A number of Limousin suckler dry cows – both fit and short-keep – pushed up to the €2/kg mark.
This April 2019-born Charolais bullock weighed 705kg and sold for €1,600 (€2.27/kg).
Top of the dairy dry cows was fit young stock, which topped at €1.67/kg.
A good number of forward continental steers helped to raise the bullock average for 600kg-plus to €2.11/kg.
The top third of these lots saw the average price rise to a strong €2.34/kg.
This 20-month-old Charolais bullock weighed 600kg and sold for €1,440 (€2.40/kg).
As mentioned, this was led by a number of strong Charolais and Limousin steers, which hit up to €2.40/kg.
Short-keep bullocks
It was a similar story for short-keep bullocks, with Charolais cattle reaching a high of €2.29/kg.
The number of fit heifers forward were light on the ground and the majority of those that were there were first-cross dairy beef.
This November 2019-born Limousin bullock weighed 485kg and sold for €960 (€1.98/kg).
This was led by a Limousin-cross born in spring 2019 that weighed 610kg and sold for €1,360 (€2.23/kg).
In the short-keep category for heifers between 500kg and 600kg, continental stock were in more supply, which again topped around the €2.40/kg mark.
Lighter steers and heifers were generally making the €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg mark.
This 14-month-old Limousin bull weighed 485kg and sold for €930 (€1.92/kg).
Speaking after the sale, mart manager Michael Lynch said: “Numbers weren’t as high as last year, but more stock are coming out week on week, which is encouraging.
“We had a right good December, which may be affecting numbers slightly also.
“That said, there was very strong prices for all types, with buyers quite anxious, particularly for the fitter animal, with factory agents and finishers willing to pay.”
This pair of Hereford bullocks born spring 2018 weighed 613kg and sold for €1,150 (€1.88/kg).
This 21-month-old Limousin bullock weighed 525kg and sold for €1,000 (€1.90/kg).
This 2013-born Friesian cow weighed 625kg and sold for €790 (€1.26/kg).
This four-year-old Friesian cow weighed 500kg and sold for €670 (€1.34/kg).
This batch of seven Friesian bullocks rising to two-years-old weighed 502kg and sold for €910 (€1.81/kg).
Read more
Listen: Farm Tech Talk livestock podcast
Bord Bia meat seminar: patience needed on Irish beef access to China
Would you like to improve the sustainability of your farm?
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