Last Monday’s sale at Castlerea Mart was the first bullock sale of the spring. Mart manager Brendan Egan said that there was an entry of over 100 bullocks on offer.

Given that the weather has been poor in the past few weeks and that it is the first Monday bullock sale, numbers were small, but Brendan expects numbers to increase quickly in the coming weeks as grass buyers become more active.

There were a plentiful supply of forward bullocks on offer, with those over 600kg selling mainly from €550 to €800 along with the weight. Brendan said that specialist feeders were active for the best-quality forward types, but he added that where animals would be slaughtered overage, then prices were back on in-spec stock by well over €100/head.

Those from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly for about €600 along with the weight on average or for about €2.10/kg for average-quality types, while better-quality U grade stores made from €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg or up to €820 along with the weight.

Brendan said that farmer buyers were active, but as numbers on offer increase in the coming weeks and with improving weather forecast, he expects grass demand to be very strong. Commission rates are 1.9% to the seller and €9 to the buyer with an entry fee of €2.