Saturday’s cattle sale in Macroom Mart saw 621 cattle sell to a clearance of 96%.

Calves continue to remain an exceptional trade, according to mart manager Jerh O’Sullivan.

“We had 12 shippers here filling orders on Saturday, with the season now starting to slow down.

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“There is a new market started to take off with us for reared calves – farmers who don’t want the hassle of rearing sucks opting to purchase reared calves or runners and the farmers who put the effort into rearing them are getting well paid with over €5/kg regularly paid.

“We seen a steady trade, with a small lift in price for the lighter cattle weighing 350kg and below – they didn’t see the same pressure the heavier cattle seen this spring.

“We’ve noticed a bigger number of forward stores and factory-fit cattle appear out this spring compared to previous years, with farmers opting to sell through the ring than kill them in the factories.

“We had a good show of weanlings on offer here on Saturday. That will be the first of the harvest-born weanlings to appear out and they are remaining a good trade.

“There is a strong bite from exporters for the bull weanling weighing from 280kg up to 380kg, with €4.50/kg to €5.50/kg being paid.”

Weanling heifers

Weanling heifers weighing from 300kg to 400kg met sharp demand from farmers looking to buy for grass, as the top third of these heifers sold for an average of €4.27/kg.

Heavier cattle saw more stability this week, with numbers starting to slow up.

Bullocks weighing from 500kg to 600kg saw a rise of 3c/kg for the bottom third, while bullocks weighing from 400kg to 500kg saw a rise of 5c/kg for the average third, leaving them selling at €3.52/kg, with up to 9c/kg of a rise for the bottom third.

Heifers were not just as sought after as the bullocks. However, it remains the same as lighter heifers below 400kg were selling better than those weighing above 400kg.

Cull cows

“Cull cows have remained a solid trade the last number of weeks. There seems to be demand there for cull bulls,” added Jerh.

“We had a number here on Saturday and they were snapped up, with over €3/kg paid.

“The younger continental store cows sold around the €3/kg mark, with older cows back selling from €2.50/kg up to €2.80/kg.

“Friesian cows remain steady, with older cows lacking flesh cack around the €2/kg mark, with younger cows able to cross €2.50/kg.”

In pictures

These Limousin-cross bullocks born 02/2025 and weighing 387kg sold for €1,510 (€3.90/kg).

These Angus-cross heifers born February 2025 and weighing 400kg sold for €1,400 (€3.50/kg).

This Hereford bull born 02/2024 and weighing 910kg sold for €2,900 (€3.19/kg).

These Limousin- cross bullocks born February 2025 and weighing 418kg sold for €1,530 (€3.66/kg).

These Shorthorn-cross heifers born February 2025 and weighing 285kg sold for €1,070 (€3.75/kg).

This Friesian-cross cow born 02/02/2018 and weighing 660kg sold for €1,490 (€2.26/kg).

This Limousin-cross bull weanling born 10/08/2025 and weighing 285kg sold for €1,250 (€4.38/kg).

This Charlolais-cross heifer born 20/07/2024 and weighing 605kg sold for €2,150 (€3.55/kg).

This Simmental-cross cow born 04/2007 and weighing 675kg sold for €1,820 (€2.70/kg).

This Friesian-cross cow born 20/01/23 and weighing 680kg sold for €1,960 (€2.88/kg).

This Angus bull born 10/2020 and weighing 850kg sold for €2,800 (€3.29/kg).