Watch: top call of €3,710 for cull bull in Kilkenny Mart

This June 2020 Hereford stock bull weighed 1,005kg and sold for €3,710 (€3.69/kg).

Kilkenny Mart had 600 cattle through the ring last Thursday, a larger than normal number for the last week in July.

Forward store cattle were in big demand, with five Aberdeen Angus bullocks weighing 575kg selling for €2,680 (€4.66/kg).

Lighter stores from 400kg to 500kg crossed the €5/kg barrier on a number of occasions, with one Charolais bullock weighing 495kg selling for €2,620 (€5.29/kg).

Beef cull cows ranged in price from €3/kg to €4.41/kg, with Friesian cull cows ranging from €2.25/kg to €3.70/kg.

Auctioneer George Candler said: "I’m 50 years selling commercial cattle and I‘ve never seen them [at] such a trade."

"Farmers may have a good price in their head for cattle and we exceed that by €150 to €200/head.

"There is a slight snag, in that lighter cattle that they are buying back today are costing about €1 to €2/kg more to replace than what they sold.

"Light store cattle heifers and bullocks are costing from €750 to €900/head more than prices last year, with the forward store and beef type €900 to €1,000/head more than last year.”

Kilkenny Mart will hold a TB-restricted sale later this month and any prospective sellers are asked to contact the mart to arrange the sale of their stock.

This January 2022-born Simmental stock bull weighed 970kg and sold for €3,490 (€3.60/kg).

This May 2022-born Limousin heifer weighed 740kg and sold for €3,430 (€4.64/kg).

This November 2015-born Charolais cull cow weighed 825kg and sold for €3,430 (€4.16/kg).

This January 2023-born Aberdeen Angus bullock weighed 755kg and sold for €3,380 (€4.48/kg).