There is a brighter tone to the trade for forward stores and slaughter-fit bullocks and heifers over the last week.

Throughput in some sales of cattle has increased by upwards of 10% as seasonal entries start to climb.

Bullocks weighing from 500kg to 600kg firmed in price by 8c/kg, with the average bullock selling for €3.71/kg, while the top third of bullocks increased by 10c/kg to average €4.21/kg.

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Friesian bullocks in this weight bracket are selling from €2.80/kg to €3.20/kg on average, with the best-quality lots exceeding €3.30/kg.

Angus-crosses, Hereford-crosses and some continental dairy-bred stores are trading from €3.30/kg to €3.70/kg, while good-quality suckler-bred continentals are trading from €3.70/kg to €4.40/kg, with select lots selling upwards of €4.50/kg to €4.60/kg in smaller numbers.

It is a similar story for heavier bullocks weighing in excess of 600kg, but at a lower price per kilo.

The average bullock is selling for €3.61/kg, up 5c/kg, while the top third are selling on average for €4.01/kg, up 3c/kg, and the bottom third at €3.25/kg.

Heifers are marginally stronger. The average price for heavier lots weighing in excess of 600kg was €3.66/kg over the last week, steady on the previous week, while the top third firmed by 7c/kg to average €4.06/kg. The bottom third averaged €3.27/kg, down 5c/kg on the week.

Prices almost exactly mirrored these for lighter heifers weighing 500kg to 600kg.

Lighter lots weighing 400kg to 500kg eased slightly, with the average of €3.68/kg down 1c/kg, while the top third price of €4.21/kg was 7c/kg easier.

Weanling trade

The number of weanling price records in the MartBids database is in contrast to cattle, with sales figures down by more than 20%.

This is due to a number of special sales in the previous week boosting throughput. Fewer special sales has also had a significant impact on average prices, which appear to be down by anywhere from 6c/kg to 22c/kg.

As expected, it is the top third of animals that have reduced the most due to fewer top-quality bulls traded.

The average weanling bull weighing 300kg to 400kg sold for €4.98/kg, 6c/kg easier, while the top third of bulls sold for €5.66/kg, down 22c/kg on the previous week.

The bottom third of bulls sold for €4.19/kg. The average bull weighing 400kg to 450kg sold for €4.84/kg, with the top third averaging €5.42/kg.

The average price for heifers weighing 300kg to 400kg was €4.64/kg, while the top third price was €5.27/kg, down 7c/kg.

Cull cows

The number of cull cows recorded in the MartBids database reduced by about 10% last week. Prices are holding steady, with the average price recorded at €2.92/kg and the bottom third at €2.01/kg.

Light-carcase Friesian cows lacking flesh are selling from €1.50/kg to €1.90/kg, with better-quality cows to €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg and higher for younger and heavier cows.

Good-quality continental cows are selling from €3/kg to €3.50/kg.