There was a bigger sale of cattle at Kilkenny mart yesterday (Thursday) with the trade tending to be somewhat easier, especially for plainer types. This has been the case in sales across the country. According to the mart, there were fewer cull cows on offer this week and prices eased by €10 to €30 per head.

Bull weanlings made from €2.24/kg to €2.73/kg in the main, with an exceptional price of €3.42/kg paid for a 260kg Charolais bull. Store bullocks weighing 400kg to 500kg made €380 to €805 over the weight, or €1.80/kg to €2.75/kg. Heavier bullocks in the 500kg to 600kg weight bracket made €440 to €805 over the weight, or €1.80/kg to €2.75/kg.

Store heifers made from €2/kg to €2.65/kg, or €480 to €840 over. One Charolais heifer weighing 460kg made €1,100 (€2.39/kg) and an Aberdeen Angus heifer weighing 480kg sold for €1,090 (€2.27/kg). Beef heifers made €2/kg to €2.60/kg, or €580 to €980 over the weight. One Limousin heifer weighing 600kg sold for €1,350, or (€2.25/kg) and a Charolais heifer weighing 680kg sold for €1,660 (€2.44/kg).

On the day, there was a special suckler sale which saw a complete clearance of cows with calves at foot. They made €1,200 to €2,400 per unit and in-calf Continental cows and heifers sold from €1,100 to €1,600 per head.

Friesian cull cows made €1/kg to €1.85/kg, while continental-bred cows made €1.45/kg to €1.95/kg.