Castlerea Mart’s show and sale of spring-born weanlings generated keen interest from farmers and live exporters for an entry of over 200 bulls.

Upwards of 70% of these weighed between 300kg and 400kg and recorded an average price of €5.52/kg.

The top third of bulls sold in a particularly brisk trade, averaging at €6.37/kg, while the bottom third of bulls sold for €4.73/kg on average.

Lighter bulls weighing 200kg to 300kg recorded a higher average price of €6.09/kg, with this varying from €5.03/kg for the bottom third of bulls in this category and €6.95/kg for the top third.

The price per kilo for heavier bulls weighing 400kg to 450kg averaged €4.85/kg in a price range from €4.49/kg for the bottom third to €5.18/kg for the top third.

Not surprisingly, there was about half the number of weanling heifers on offer than bulls, with prices also well up on the previous week’s. The average price paid for heifers weighing 300kg to 400kg was €5.36/kg, with the top third at €6.15/kg and the bottom third at €4.61/kg.

Runners

The mart also trades a high number of ‘runners’ weekly, which are cattle from a couple to a few months of age.

About 50 heifer runners averaged €950, with the top third selling for €1,301 and the bottom third for €602. This was similar for bulls with prices trending €40 higher.

The general heifer trade was also firmer, with prices up anywhere from 16c/kg to as high as 40c/kg, with a noticeably stronger appetite for quality store heifers.

Those weighing 400kg to 500kg averaged €4.19/kg, with the top third at €4.97/kg and the bottom third at €3.55/kg.

Heavier lots weighing 500kg to 600kg averaged €3.98/kg, with the top third selling for €4.57/kg and the bottom third for €3.46/kg.

There was a dozen lots exceeding the 600kg mark and these averaged €3.78/kg, with the top third at €4.23/kg.

There was over 40 dry cows on offer, with fleshed continental cows exceeding a price of €3/kg and ranging in the main from €3.20/kg to €3.80/kg.

Beef cows

Beef cows with an average to poor cover of flesh sold from €2.80/kg to €3.15/kg, while a small entry of Friesian cows sold from €2.20/kg to €2.65/kg.

Prices in Monday’s bullock sale were up anywhere from 20c/kg to 40c/kg in a much sharper trade.

Bullocks weighing 500kg to 600kg average €4.25/kg, with the top third at €4.83/kg and the bottom third at €3.69/kg. Prices for stores weighing 400kg to 500kg trended 20c/kg higher than these prices.