Monday’s sale at Kilmallock Mart saw a good entry of stock for the time of year.

Mart manager PJ Buckley said that exporters kept a firm floor under the trade for lighter weanlings and calves, while farmers and finishers were the main source of demand for forward stores.

Speaking after the sale, Denis Kirby of Golden Vale Marts said that at the top of the forward store market, bullocks sold for up to €1,510 or €2.13/kg for a 708kg continental.

The average price paid for forward bullocks, according to Denis, was €1.90/kg, with the majority of dairy-crosses selling mainly from €350 to €480 along with the weight.

Heavy Friesians sold mainly from €1.60/kg to €1.75/kg. Continentals were a good trade, with prices holding firm.

Better-quality heavy continentals sold from €750 to €800 over.

Weanling bulls sold for up to €1,060 or €2.70/kg for a top-quality heavy bull and prices averaged around €2.00/kg.

Denis said that like recent weeks, better-quality continentals continue to be snapped up by farmer buyers, while exporters are keeping a firm floor under the trade for light average-quality weanling bulls.

At the top of the market, heifers sold for up to €1,100/head or €2.26/kg.

Denis said that stores sold for about €1.82/kg on average and for up to €1.90/kg for better-quality types.

Many dairy-cross stores over 450kg sold from €400 to €500 along with the weight. Lighter weanling heifers sold mainly from €650 to €890/head, with continentals a strong trade.

There was a small entry of drystock which sold for up to €1,130/head, while a clearance sale of calved suckler cows and cows with calves at foot was met with very strong demand.

Calved cows sold to a top of €1,860 for a top-quality continental with a two-week-old calf at foot.

Springer cows sold to a top of €1,720, with prices averaging at about €1,300/head.

There was a good entry of cull cows on offer also. Denis said that Friesian culls under 500kg sold mainly from €1.00/kg to €1.20/kg for average types and up to €1.64/kg for a fleshed cow.

Other good-quality Friesians made from €1.40/kg to €1.50/kg.

Commission rates are 1.5% to the seller and €9.30 upwards to the buyer.