Last Monday’s special fatstock show and sale at Tralee Mart saw a large entry of 438 cattle on offer. Mart manager Philip Healy said that the trade was very strong for all fleshed cattle.

Philip added that both the quality of stock on offer and prices paid were up slightly on the same sale last year.

Philip said that the pictures here, mostly of cows, do not show the true quality of cattle on offer at the sale.

There were some crackers, with the champion heifer, a 720kg Belgian Blue, fetching a very strong price of €1,280 over the weight or €2.78/kg.

This Belgian Blue was the Supreme Champion Heifer weighing 720kg,born in November 2015 and sold for €2,000. Pictured l-r;Tom O'Connor(AIB), Paul Mulvihill(AIB), Darragh O'Connor(Buyer) and Maurice Sheehan(Breeder).

Other top-quality heifers sold from €1,000 to €1,340 over the weight.

The main trade for average-quality heifers saw prices range mainly from €480 to €540 over the weight, with prices averaging at €970/head for heifers from 450kg to 550kg. The trade for heifers was so strong according to Philip that no heifer went unsold.

There was an excellent selection of bullocks on offer, with plenty of farmer and factory agent demand driving prices.

The top price was a top-quality 795kg 2015-born Belgian Blue bullock which sold at a whopping €2,500 (€3.14/kg).

All good-quality heavy bullocks over 600kg sold mainly from €1,250 to €1,400/head or from €500 to €800 over and up to €1,700 for the tops.

This pen of Aberdeen Angus bullocks, weighing 510kg and born Feb/March 2016, sold for €950 each (€1.86/kg).

Average-quality bullocks from 500kg to 600kg sold for just under €1,050/head or just under €2.00/kg.

Better-quality bullocks in the same weight range sold mainly from €500 to €750 over the weight. Lighter bullocks from 400kg to 500kg were a steady trade, with prices of Hereford and Angus bullocks ranging mainly from €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg.

The cow trade was brisk. Friesian cows straight from the parlour sold mainly from €0.80/kg to €1.20/kg, with most selling for in or around the weight.

Better-quality continental cows were a very strong trade, with those carrying flesh selling mainly from €1,000 to €1,300 or from €200 to €545 over the weight. At the top of the market, some U grade Charolais and Limousin cows sold from €600 to €1,000 over or for up to €2.06/kg. There was a good selection of almost 240 heifers available also.

This Limousin cull cow, born 2013 and weighing 745kg, sold for €1,370 (€1.84/kg).

Commission rates are €7.50 to the buyer and 1.5% to the seller.