Saturday’s sale at Sixmilebridge saw the last sale take place of 2018.

This Charolais cross heifer, born July 2016 and weighing 670kg born sold for €1,360 (€2.03/kg).

Mart manager Sean Ryan said that there was a good entry of over 270 head of cattle in the sale, which would have been well up on the same sale last year.

This Limouisin heifer, born September 2017 and weighing 340kg sold for €610 (€1.79/kg).

Sean added that in the last few years they have seen more trading taking place in December as farmers look to sell and to buy stock before the end of the year.

This Limousin heifer, born June 2017 and weighig 320kg sold for €525 (€1.64/kg).

In addition, Sean said that the difficult spring meant that many farmers bought cattle later for grass.

This Charolais cross heifer, born April 2017 and weighign 310kg sold for €625 (€2.02/kg).

To comply with the ANC seven-month retention period, some have had to hold on to these cattle until later than usual, resulting in them only selling these in December.

This Charolais stock bull, born May 2015 and weighing 860kg sold for €1,270 (€1.48/kg).

In terms of the trade, he said that demand was strong and the prices were up on last week, with farmer buyers more active.

This Limousin bullock, born April 2017 and weighing 515kg sold for €1,100 (€2.14/kg).

In terms of the cattle on offer, there were a few heavy bullocks on offer over 600kg, but not that many.

This pair of Limousin cross bullocks, born April 2017 and weighing 530kg sold for €1,120 (€2.11/kg).

The top price was €1,300 for a 600kg bullock. However, the majority of cattle on offer were lighter stores from 400kg to 500kg and Sean said that these were met with strong demand.

This Belgian Blue bullock, born April 2017 and weighing 505kg sold for €1,040 (€2.06/kg).

Bullocks from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg, while lighter types from 400kg to 500kg sold from €2.20/kg to €2.55/kg at the top of the market.

This Hereford bullock, born May 2016 and weighing 580kg sold for €1,020 (€1.76/kg).

Farmers looking to source cattle before the end of the year were the biggest source of demand for these.

This Limousin bullock, born June 2015 and weighing 675kg sold for €1,330 (€1.97/kg).

The heifer trade was quite similar to bullocks. Heavy heifers were very scarce and the main supply of those over 500kg sold from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg, while heifers from 400kg to 500kg sold from €2.20/kg to €2.55/kg, which was similar to or slightly stronger than the previous week.

This Charolais cross heifer, born April 2017 and weighing 250kg sold for €910 (€3.64/kg).

The weanling trade was strong also, with bulls from 300kg to 400kg selling mainly from €2.45/kg to €2.70/kg, with top-quality types making over €2.80/kg. Lighter bulls from 200kg to 300kg sold from €2.40/kg to €2.80/kg at the top of the market.

The majority of weanling heifers on offer were under 350kg and these sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.60/kg. Light types under 280kg were scarce and a more variable trade where quality was poor.

Commission rates are €10 to the buyer and 1.4% to the seller.