The main camera at the mart was at last week’s weanling sale at Mountrath Mart. The sale saw a strong start to the new year, with a massive entry of over 330 head of cattle on offer. The majority of these were weanling heifers and cows. There were some top-quality steers on offer also, but numbers were very small.

Heavy types over 500kg sold mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg or from €1,190 to €1,415/head. There were some lighter types on offer also, which made close to €2.70/kg.

The dry cow section saw about 120 lots on offer. These were a mixture of Friesian-cross and continental cows.

Mart manager Glenn Cooper said that the trade for Friesians was quite good, with the majority of them selling from €1.40/kg to €1.50/kg, with some plainer types making from €1.10/kg to €1.30/kg.

The trade for good-quality continental cows was very strong and the quality of those on offer was equally as good.

In terms of prices and demand, the cow trade stood out in the sale. As it was a special heifer and cow sale, there were plenty of buyers for heavy slaughter-fit cows.

Continental cull cows averaged over €2.00/kg. There was a share of better-quality cows which sold from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg, with the top price for a 920kg Belgian Blue cow selling to €2.60/kg.

The majority of Charolais and Limousin cows over 700kg sold from €1,400 to €1,600/head.

The heifer trade was brisk also. Good-quality heavy heifers were a flying trade, with plenty of buyers active for all types.

Heifers over 600kg sold for €2.40/kg on average or €1,560 for the average 650kg heifer. The top-priced heifer at the sale was an 830kg Belgian Blue heifer, which sold for €2,280 (€2.75/kg). Those from 550kg to 600kg were a very strong trade also and sold mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg, with top-quality lots making up to €2.95/kg.

There were some plainer heifers available in this weight range too and these sold from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg. Lighter heifers from 450kg to 550kg sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg, with some plain types selling from €1.85/kg upwards, while top-quality lots sold from €2.80/kg to €3.20/kg.

Commission rates are 1.6% to the seller and €10 to the buyer.