Elphin Mart had a large entry of dry cows at its weekly cattle sale on Monday night, where buyers were welcomed back around the ringside.

Good-quality dry cows in the 700kg to 800kg bracket were hitting €2/kg and over.

This June 2015-born Shorthorn cow due to calve at the end of May sold for €1,440.

Plainer cows lacking flesh ranged from €1.60/kg to €1.80/kg in price, depending on quality and flesh.

There was a special sale of over 40 pedigree animals as part of Monday night’s sale.

Prices ranged from €1,200/head for younger Aberdeen Angus bulls to €2,000 for older continental bulls.

This March 2020-born pedigree Limousin bull weighed 560kg and sold for €1,300.

Suckler outfits topped out at €2,100 for a Limousin cow and heifer calf.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, new mart manager Kevin Caslin said: “It’s great to have everybody back around the ring. It really helps the atmosphere of a mart and hopefully that atmosphere will help the trade.

This April-born pedigree Aberdeen Angus bull weighed 510kg and sold for €1,300.

“It makes a big difference when you can see the cattle in front of you when you are buying.

“Some of our northern customers have stayed online and will probably continue to work online in the future.

This October 2016-born Limousin cow with her Limousin bull calf at foot went home unsold at €2,080.

“It was also interesting to see some of our bigger sheep buyers choose to stay buying online at our sheep sale.

“We had everybody here handling the lambs, but some choose to sit in the jeep and do their business out there.”

This February 2020-born pedigree Simmental bull weighed 700kg and sold for €1,540.