There were close to 120 dry cows on offer in Bandon Mart on Monday last.
Prices from €2.50/kg to €3.30/kg were paid for most fleshed cows, with a sprinkling of suckler cows at the upper end of the trade.
Friesians with good flesh were generally trading for a little either side of €2.70/kg. For lighter and parlour cows, prices were closer to €2.20/kg or €2.30/kg.
After the sale, manager Sean Dennehy said: “Heavy cows are back a good bit since earlier in the spring time, they’re probably back €400 on late 2025 and the start of this year.
“The top prices for most of the heavy cows now is around €2,200 to €2,300. You were looking at €2,700 to €2,800 for a lot of those cows a year ago and some of the heavier cows making over €3,000.”
On the new TB measures introduced, he said: “It’s not ideal but people are getting used to it, but the Department needs to give a look at the categories because it’s more complex than they envisaged, especially on what is a breeding herd.
“For someone buying a lot of dry cows, it’s inevitable they will have cows that are sold as ‘guaranteed not in-calf’ that end up calving down. They could end up falling into the breeding herd category without intending to and I think that needs to be resolved.”
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