This week saw a reduced number of cows on offer in Drumshanbo Mart.
As we head into the summer months and with the good weather, it is the same around the country, with cattle numbers falling of until the back end again.
The lower numbers boosted the trade, with all cows seeing a rise in demand across the board.
There was a full clearance in the cow section, with sharper demand for the heavier factory-fit cows or cows close to finishing that would only require another couple of weeks of feeding.
This lift in demand is boosted by a much-wanted lift in factory quotes for prime beef.
Good weather
The recent good weather and boost in grass growth out west, combined with a steady trade for cows in the last few weeks, has kept confidence in farmers buying cows for grass with plans to slaughter these cows in the back end of the year.
The top third of dry cows sold for €3.70/kg. This was a similar trade to the previous week, but with a small lift of 2c/kg.
The biggest lift was seen for the middle third of cows, with these seeing a rise of 14c/kg on the previous week selling for €3.31/kg.
Backed by an increase in demand from grass buyers, the bottom third of cows mainly made up of store cows requiring a couple months grazing before finishing saw a lift of 11c/kg on the previous week. This left these cows selling at €2.74/kg.
This Limousin-cross cow born 01/01/16 and weighing 855kg sold for €2,950 (€3.45/kg).
This Charolais cow born 23/04/20 and weighing 840kg sold for €2,870 (€3.42/kg).
This Limousin-cross cow born 22/12/21 and weighing 585kg sold for €2,340 (€4.00/kg).
This Charolais-cross cow born 05/09/19 and weighing 670kg sold for €2,230 (€3.33/kg).
This Hereford-cross cow born 10/03/13 and weighing 540kg sold for €1,490 (€2.76/kg).
This Simmental-cross cow born 03/03/16 and weighing 740kg sold for €2,320 (€3.14/kg).
This Charolais-cross cow weighing 755kg and born 15/04/14 sold for €2,500 (€3.31/kg).
SHARING OPTIONS