Tullow Mart’s autumn-born weanling show and sale held in conjunction with its weekly cattle sale met a relatively positive trade.

Manager Eric Driver reported that prices for bulls were broadly in line with 2025 returns, with a mixture of bull beef finishers and live exporters active.

Heavier R grading bulls weighing upwards of 470kg to 500kg averaged around €4.20/kg, with a selection of top-quality U grading bulls selling to €4.40/kg to €4.60/kg.

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Live exporters were more active for lighter bulls and pushed top prices to €5/kg for suitable lots.

The trade for store heifers and bullocks has been broadly steady in recent weeks, despite prolonged drought conditions and Eric comments that there was more life to the trade as some farmers start to switch to purchasing cattle for winter finishing.

Angus-crosses and Hereford-crosses weighing from 350kg to 440kg sold from €3.45/kg to €3.70/kg, while continental-crosses bred from the dairy herd ranged from €3.50/kg to €3.80/kg depending on quality.

Suckler-bred cattle averaged around the €4/kg mark, with a selection of top-quality lots rising to €4.30/kg to €4.50/kg in small numbers.

There was also a brighter tone to the beef trade, with a good entry of aged Limousin-sired bullocks weighing from 610kg to 740kg selling from €3.25/kg to €3.50/kg, with a couple of lots above this range.

Heifer trade

Heifers sold for a better price per kilo, with some top-quality lots underpinning greater demand.

This was true of good-quality store heifers weighing from 480kg to 570kg, which sold to €3.70/kg to €4/kg. Prices for Angus-cross and Hereford-cross heifers were similar to bullocks.

There has been no real increase in cull cows and Eric comments that any slaughter-fit cows are meeting keen demand.

Friesian cows with a cover of flesh sold from €2/kg to €2.35/kg, with some heavier cows selling to €2.50/kg, while suckler-bred cows sold to a top of €3/kg to €3.20/kg for Angus and Hereford cows weighing in excess of 700kg.

Breeding sales

The mart has a busy weekend ahead, with entries of breeding stock. There is a clearance herd of 20 continental cows with calves at foot and running with an Aubrac bull on Friday at 2pm.

There is a special sale of 100 in-calf heifers on offer on Saturday 29 August at 3pm. The continental-bred heifers are calving from August to January and there is plenty of high-star rated heifers included.

In pictures

This Limousin-cross heifer weighing 545kg and born 24/09/2024 sold for €2,010 (€3.69/kg).

This nice-quality Charolais-cross heifer weighing 570kg and born 10/10/2024 sold for €2,050 (€360/kg).

This Limousin-cross bullock weighing 445kg and born 19/03/2025 sold for €1,490 (€3.35/kg).

Weighing 364kg on average, these Friesian-cross bullocks born from 10/03/2025 to 17/03/2025 sold for €1,110 (€3.05/kg).

This pair of Angus-cross heifers weighing 345kg and born 17/03/2025 and 11/03/2025 sold for €1,150 (€3.33/kg).

This Limousin-cross heifer weighing 445kg and born 26/03/2025 sold for €1,640 (€3.66/kg).

This Limousin-cross heifer weighing 450kg and born 17/02/2025 sold for €1,980 (€4.40/kg).

Three Limousin-cross heifers averaging 467kg and born from 21/02/2025 to 18/03/2025 sold for €1,650 (€3.53/kg).

These three Limousin-cross heifers weighing 433kg and born from 02/03/2025 to 21/04/2025 sold for €1,640 (€3.79/kg).

These six Limousin heifers averaging 492kg and born from 24/11/2024 to 29/04/2025 sold for €2,030 (€4.13/kg).

This Belgian Blue-cross bullock weighing 535kg and born 02/03/2025 sold for €1,890 (€3.53/kg).

Weighing 510kg, this Limousin-cross bullock born on sold for €2,260 (€4.43/kg).