On Wednesday last, Portumna Mart held a special Fat Stock Show and Sale, with over 360 cattle on offer on the day.

Speaking to the Irish Farmer's Journal, mart manger PJ Conroy said "We had a great show of stock here.

"It was a credit to the farmers, and I'd like to thank all who sponsored the show. We had plenty of buyers around the ring and store cattle are a good trade, with great demand for store heifers from grass buyers.

“The trade for cull cows had improved on the previous week for the bottom two thirds of cows, seeing a rise of between 20c/kg and 30c/kg, with the top third of cows remaining steady, selling for an average of €3.27/kg.

"The middle third of cows rose 26c/kg on the previous week and sold for an average of €3/kg, with the bottom third selling for an impressive €2.63/kg.”

Heifers and bullocks

Heifers and bullock numbers were even on the day, at around the 130 mark in both sections. Lighter heifers were a better trade compared with the bullocks, but the heavier bullocks sold to a sharper trade than the heavy heifers.

“The top third of store heifers on offer were super quality and had no bother crossing the €4/kg mark, with the top third of heifers between 350kg and 400kg selling to an average of €4.73/kg," Mr Conroy said. "Your average quality heifer remained a good seller. Heifers weighing under 500kg averaged around the €3.80/kg to €3.90/kg mark, and as you go towards the bottom third, they were mainly made up of dairy cross heifer, they averaged out at €3.50/kg.

“Heavier heifers remained a steady trade, not as sharp as the heavy bullocks, but that was mainly down to some super-quality continental bullocks on offer. Your top heifers over 500kg are typically selling around the €4/kg mark, heifers averaged out between €3.60/kg to €3.70/kg mark, with your bottom third of heifers averaging €3.35/kg.

“We had a super show of heavy bullocks weighing from 500kg upwards. Your top-quality continental bullocks are still highly sought after. The top third of heavy bullocks averaged €4.10/kg and the quality fed down the line, with the middle third of bullocks averaging an impressive €3.80/kg.

"The bottom third of bullocks averaged €3.50/kg, with plenty of buyers for those Angus and Hereford-cross bullocks," Mr Conroy added.

This Limousin-cross bullock weighing 510kg and born 08/09/24 sold for €2,180 (€4.27/kg).

This Charolais-cross bullock weighing 550kg and born 08/11/24 sold for €2,260 (€4.11/kg).

This second-prize-winning Charolais-cross bullock weighing 810kg and born 06/03/24 sold for €3,100 (€3.83/kg).

These five Angus-cross bullocks weiging 403kg and born February 2025 sold for €1,460 (€3.62/kg).

This third-prize-winning Limousin-cross heifer weighing 645kg and born 03/04/24 sold for €2,540 (€3.94/kg).

These four Hereford-cross heifers weighing 374kg and born February 2025 sold for €1,340 (€3.64/kg).

This second-prize-winning Limousin-cross heifer weighing 680kg and born 31/03/24 sold for €2,700 (€3.97/kg).

This Limousin-cross heifer weighing 715kg and born 23/03/24 sold for €2,690 (€3.76/kg).

This Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighing 365kg and born 10/03/25 sold for €2,260 (€6.19/kg).

This Limousin-cross cow weighing 660kg and born 13/08/23 sold for €2,000 (€3.03/kg).

This Simmental-cross cow weighing 715kg and born 06/09/21 sold for €2,200 (€3.08/kg).

This Charolais-cross cow weighing 795kg and born 12/03/20 sold for €2,440 (€3.07/kg).

This Limousin-cross cow weighing 645kg and born 04/09/22 sold for €2,090 (€3.24/kg).

This Charolais-cross cow weighing 835kg and born 15/03/14 sold for €2,650 (€3.17/kg).