Monday’s public holiday attracted a packed ringside to Inishowen Mart in Co Donegal.

While inclement weather and poor grass growth has delayed turnout, there are plenty of farmers keen to get their hands on cattle to comply with stocking rate requirements.

This put a firm floor under the trade in Monday’s sale and also in the previous week’s special spring sale, when over 400 head went under the hammer.

Good-quality 2024-born continental bullocks weighing from 450kg to 550kg sold on average from €4.40/kg to €4.80/kg, with a selection of excellent-quality lots rising to €5/kg.

Small numbers of plainer-quality and dairy-crosses sold back to €4/kg.

Heifers

Heifers of a comparable weight were a similar trade, with average prices possibly 10c/kg lower than those paid for bullocks.

There was also a keener appetite exhibited from agents for slaughter-fit and short-keep stores.

Prices were heavily dependent on quality, with R and U- grading types selling from €3.80/kg to upwards of €4/kg, while some O grading types sold back to €3.60/kg to €3.80/kg for bullocks and heifers weighing from 650kg to 750kg-plus.

There was some top-quality feeding bulls on offer weighing from 430kg to upwards of 500kg.

The general run of prices paid were in the region of €4.30/kg to €4.75/kg.

Lighter bulls

Lighter bulls suitable for feeding on as bulls or castrating and weighing from 300kg to 400kg sold from €4.50/kg to €5/kg on average, with some excellent-quality bulls selling to €5.70/kg.

The average price range for weanling heifers weighing from 300kg to 400kg was €4.20/kg to €4.80/kg, with U grading types and heifers with breeding potential climbing above €5/kg.

Cull cows

Demand for cull cows was up on the previous week, with prices 10c/kg to 15c/kg firmer.

Some heavy fleshed continental cows weighing in excess of 800kg topped the €3,000 mark, selling from €3.30/kg to €3.60/kg.

Lighter and lesser-quality beef cows sold from €2.85/kg to €3.20/kg, while an entry of Friesian cows sold from €2.30/kg to €2.80/kg.

There were a couple of heavy Charolais bulls entered, with a standout price of €3,750 paid for a six-year-old Charolais bull weighing 1,080kg, while a 915kg Charolais bull sold for €2,950.

A couple of cows with calves at foot met keen demand and topped €3,000 per head.