In this week's sale in Tullamore Mart on Monday evening, some 730 cattle went under the hammer, with 97% changing hands and just 3% going home unsold.
On the night, there was 380 weanling bulls, with 320 weanling heifers and a further 30 suckler cows also on offer.
Seventy bull weanlings weighing between 250kg and 350kg went under the hammer, with all selling to an average of €4.15/kg.
The top bulls crossed €5/kg, while lesser-quality bulls and bucket-reared weanlings sold from €3.50/kg to €3.90/kg.
The top price per kilo paid was €5.66/kg for a Limousin-cross bull weighing 300kg.
Moving up the weights, bulls weighing between 350kg and 450kg saw a better week's selling, as they sold to an average of €4.29/kg – a rise of 5c/kg on the week.
Top bulls sold to €5.40/kg, with better-quality bulls generally selling from €4.50/kg upwards.
'Better farmer activity'
Mart manager Antoinette Daly noted a better farmer presence buying in this week's sale.
“There was definitely better activity from buyers this week, mostly from farmers, with a number of feedlots active for the heavier bulls.
"There was some small exporter activity this week, but farmers really drove on the trade, especially for the Charolais-cross bulls in the 330kg to 380kg weight bracket and were willing to cross €5/kg to get them,” said Antoinette.
A small number of bulls weighing over 450kg were on offer, with these bulls averaging €3.94/kg. This is a lift of 9c/kg on last week's sale, with the top bulls crossing €4.50/kg.
Similar to the bulls, heifer weanlings sold to a sharper trade this week, with those weighing over 450kg selling to an average of €3.92/kg – a rise of 15c/kg on last week.
Better-quality heifers crossed €4.50/kg, while the top price paid was €4.81/kg for a Simmental-cross heifer weighing 540kg.
One-hundred-and-ten heifers weighing between 350kg and 450kg went under the hammer, with 94 selling to an average of €3.88/kg – a rise of 9c/kg on last week.
Limousin-cross heifers were in sharp demand, with up to €4.93/kg paid for well-made heifers showing good replacement traits.
Heifers weighing between 250kg and 350kg saw 72 animals go under the hammer, selling to an average of €4.06/kg – no change on last week.
The tops of these heifers crossed €5/kg, with farmers out to source Charolais-cross heifers particularly.
A number of Charolais-cross heifers weighing from 280kg to 310kg sold over €5/kg, with a Charolais-cross heifer weighing 325kg selling to €5.39/kg.
