Last Saturday’s sale at Dowra Mart saw a good entry of about 630 cattle on offer. The sale itself was a little bit smaller than the previous week. However, demand was very strong.

Mart manager Terry McGovern said that the trade on the day was particularly strong for all good-quality and forward cattle. However, he added that given the time of year, the quality of cattle on offer will start to slip more in the next few weeks.

The best trade was for heavy, short-keep bullocks and heifers. Terry said that heavy heifers from 550kg and upwards sold mainly from €750 to €780 over the weight, or from €2.12/kg for heavy types to €2.40/kg for those from 550kg to 580kg.

There were a good number of heifers from 400kg to 500kg on offer and the trade for these was quite good. R grade continental heifers in that weight range sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg, with better-quality U grades making from €2.40/kg to €2.50/kg or from €650 to €750 along with the weight. There were slightly more plainer heifers on sale this week. Those from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €1.90/kg to €2.10/kg.

The trade for forward steers was quite strong again, driven mainly by feeder activity for heavy types. Those over 600kg remain a very brisk trade and were selling mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg, with outstanding types making up to €900 along with the weight.

Stores from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg for R grades, or from €600 to €720 over the weight, with better-quality U grades making over €800 along with the weight. Lighter stores from 400kg to 500kg were available in good numbers and sold mainly from €550 to €650 along with the weight for average-quality types.

There was a good share of weanlings on offer, with bulls from 300kg to 400kg selling from €500 to €650 along with the weight for continental types, with plainer blacks and black and white heads making about twice the weight.

The sheep sale saw ewes with lambs at foot sell from €170 for older types with singles to €200 for younger types with doubles. Fat cull ewes sold mainly from €96 to €120, with feeding ewes making from €50 to €90.

Commission rates are €9 to the buyer and 2% to the seller.