Speaking to mart manager Martin Ryan after Monday’s general cattle sale in Mid-Tipperary mart, he said trade was “surprisingly good considering the beef prices at the minute”.

Ryan also acknowledged that regular buyers are starting to get more cautious on deals, due to reduced buying power after killing cattle.

Bullocks

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The trade for lighter bullocks was strong, while heavier lots were relatively stable when compared to the week previous. Table 1 gives a full break down of male prices at the sale.

Those weighing 350-400kg averaged €2.10/kg on the day. It was nearly all Angus and Hereford crosses here, with prices ranging from €1.93/kg for plainer animals up to a top price of €2.37/kg for a pen of four 15-month-old, R-grading Hereford bullocks averaging 355kg.

From 400-500kg, the average in the bullock ring was €1.88/kg. Friesian lots sold from €1.41/kg up to €1.74/kg and Angus and Hereford crosses made between €1.76 and €2.05/kg.

A small number of continental-cross bullocks topped the trade here, ranging from €2.11/kg to a top price of €2.53/kg for a 14-month-old Charolais weighing 415kg.

From 500-600kg, the average price was also €1.88/kg. A small number of Friesian animals sold for less than €1.60/kg, though Angus and Hereford crosses went from €1.68/kg to €2/kg. A small number of Limousin-cross bullocks sold for an average price of €2.25/kg.

Heavy bullocks, weighing over 600kg, sold for an average of €1.91/kg, with the better quality animals capable of making 20c/kg more.

Heifers

There was a solid trade for heifers on the day. Table 2 gives a full breakdown of prices.

Heifers weighing 350-400kg averaged €1.86/kg. Similar to the bullocks, it was only Angus and Hereford crosses within this weight band and these ranged from €1.45/kg up to €2.06/kg for better-quality lots.

From 400-500kg, the sale average was €1.92/kg. Hereford and Angus lots stared at €1.66/kg and went up to €1.97/kg for lots with better confirmation.

All continentals made over €2.05/kg and topped out at €2.25/kg.

The 500-600kg heifers on offer were up over 50c/kg on the week before, while €2.03/kg was the average, driven by strong continental stock. The lowest rate paid for continentals was €2/kg and this went up to a top price of €2.15/kg for a 505kg Charolais-cross.

To the seller, commission rates for bullocks, heifers and cows are €10/head for singles and €9/head for multiples, plus 0.05%. For calves, its €8/head for a single calf plus 0.05%.

To the buyer, commission is €10/head for bullocks, heifers and cows and €7/head for calves.

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.