The main camera at the mart was at last Thursday’s general cattle sale at Templemore Mart. Mart manager John O’Sullivan said that there was an increased entry of stock on offer, with the supply increasing now week on week.

There was about 500 cattle on offer, with the majority of these being stores. The trade was similar to recent weeks, with better-quality cattle a slight bit better than they had been in some cases.

Farmers were particularly active for all good-quality stores, with plenty of buyers present for plainer types and dairy-derived stock also.

At the top of the market, bullocks over 600kg were met with very strong demand, especially where they were carrying flesh or almost finished.

Top-quality heavy continental types over 600kg made over €2.30/kg, while average-quality types, with a little dairy genetics in some cases, sold for about €2.00/kg.

Even some heavy Hereford and Angus types with a dairy background made up to €655 along with the weight.

The main supply of bullocks over 500kg saw prices range from €1.90/kg to €2.20/kg, with some plainer types slightly slower to sell than a few weeks ago.

A large proportion of the cattle supply was bullocks from 450kg to 500kg. Demand for these was very strong, with suckler-bred cattle reaching the best prices.

Continental-bred bullocks in this weight range sold mainly from €970 to €1,100, with some under 450kg making close to €1,100 also.

Hereford and Angus types sold from €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg, with some plainer types struggling to reach €2.00/kg. Some nice groups of Friesians made up to €1.75/kg also.

The heifer trade was quite strong also, with a nice share of better-quality types on offer.

Heavy heifers sold for up to €750 along with the weight, with a nice-quality 670kg heifer making just shy of €1,400. Those from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €600 to €650 along with the weight.

Some nice-quality Angus heifers over 500kg made up to €2.15/kg.

Store heifers from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €550 to €700 along with the weight.

Commission rates are €10 to the buyer and €8 to €16.50 to the seller.