Marts continue to trend downwards in terms of numbers, with fewer cattle appearing at sales over the last week.

June and July are usually two of the quietest months on the mart scene, but silage-making activities left numbers a lot smaller over the last few days.

Some marts, including Mohill Mart in Co Leitrim, have moved to a fortnightly sale until numbers pick up in the autumn time again.

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A number of forward store heifers weighing around 600kg were knocking on the door of €4/kg, with some of the better heifers hitting €4.20/kg.

There was also demand for lighter heifers, with an April 2024-born Limousin heifer weighing 460kg selling for €2,280. Dry cows ranged in price from €3/kg to €3.50/kg, depending on weight and quality.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, mart manager Darragh Barden said: “There’s still customers out there for heavy cattle, with factory agents a little more active this week looking for cattle.”

Saturday’s sale also saw a special sale of pedigree bulls. Top call in the pedigree section went to November 2024-born Limousin bull weighing 640kg and selling for €3,700.

This was followed by a February 2025-born Aberdeen Angus bull weighing 655kg and selling for €3,400.

In pictures

This February 2023-born Charolais stock bull sold not suitable for breeding weighed 1,065kg and sold for €3,750 (€3.52/kg).

This August 2014-born Charolais cow weighed 690kg and sold for €2,320 (€3.36/kg).

This April 2015-born Limousin cow weighed 680kg and sold for €2,250 (€3.31/kg).

This May 2008-born Simmental cow weighed 695kg and sold for €2,100 (€3.02/kg).

This April 2020-born Limousin cow sold with her April 2026-born Limousin heifer calf at foot for €3,080.