Over 600 cattle were booked in the the general cattle sale in Kilkenny Mart on Thursday.

Bullocks and bulls

Bullocks from 350-400kg averaged €2.10/kg for the sale. A higher number of dairy-cross lots brought the average down slightly. Friesians sold from €1.59-€1.93/kg, Angus crosses made from €2.05-€2.16/kg and continentals sold for €2.23/kg up to €2.56/kg for the better-quality animal.

In the 400-500kg weight band, €1.61/kg set the ball rolling for Friesians and this stopped at €1.93/kg for Friesian crosses. Anguses and Herefords ranged from €1.85-€2.08/kg. Continentals sold for a top price of €2.67/kg down to €2.05/kg for plainer types.

The sale average for 500-600kg males was €2.06/kg. Continentals topped the trade at €2.49/kg down to €2.10/kg, Hereford and Angus crosses continued down to €1.81/kg and Friesians went from €1.90/kg back to €1.76/kg.

The trade for heavy bullocks over 600kg was steady with the sale average practically unchanged from the week previous. Dairy-cross cattle sold for between €1.56-€1.87/kg and continentals made between €1.97-€2.28/kg.

Heifers

Heifers from 350-400kg were up over 30c/kg week-on-week to an average of €2.38/kg. A small number of Hereford dairy crosses ranged from €1.84-€2.05/kg and continentals started at €2.23/kg up to a strong price of €2.69/kg for quality lots.

In the 400-500kg weight band there was also a lift for the week, now up to an average of €2.12/kg. Friesian crosses started at €1.24/kg with the best of the Hereford dairy crosses reaching over the €2/kg mark. The highest for quality continentals was €2.59/kg, with plainer continentals bottoming out at €2.13/kg.

Heavier continentals from 500-600kg started at €1.95/kg up to a high price of €2.84/kg for well-fleshed animals.

Cows

Over 70 cows were sold on the day. Friesian cows started at €1.04/kg up to a top price of €1.49/kg for better-fleshed lots. Prices included €1,000 for a 720kg 2014-born cow; €900 for a 2011-born 630kg cow; €1,010 for a 680kg 2011-born cow and a top Friesian price of €1,030 for a 705kg 2008-born cow.

Continental crosses went from €1.53/kg up to a top price of €1.77/kg. On a per-head basis €1,100-€1,350 bought most with a few creeping over the €1,400-mark. Top cow price on the day went to an 870kg Simmental-cross cow which sold for €1,440. Other prices included €1,140 for a 645kg Belgian Blue cross, €1,340 for a 765kg Limousin cross and €1,150 for a 730kg Charolais cross.

Kilkenny Mart

Commission in the mart is €12-15 to the seller and €10 to the buyer.

Analysis for this report was generated from the MartBids app. MartBids is a collaboration between the Irish Farmers Journal and livestock marts. The app is available for download on iPhone or Android on the App Store or Google Play. With this app, all of the information that is displayed on the mart board is now available on your smartphone, long before the animal enters the sales ring.