There was a buoyant trade at Tuesday’s sale in Athenry Mart, where factory agents and farmers around the ring had strong competition from online buyers all day.

Prices and numbers of certain classes of cattle were up on the day, but the numbers in general are beginning to ease off.

The mart has had a very strong couple of months, with some very big sales and a lot of top-quality cattle going through the sales ring.

The slight rise in factory prices has encouraged farmers to bring forward good-quality stock and the recent weather has forced hands to house or sell.

Northern Ireland buyers were strong both at the ringside and online, underpinning the heavy stock suitable for the factory, while farmers were very active for store cattle.

Dry cows averaged at €1.82/kg across the board, with Charolais- and Limousin-cross cows typically ranging from €2.40/kg to €2.70/kg. One Charolais cow born March 2011 and weighing 840kg sold for €2,190 (€2.60/kg).

Heifer prices increased in all weight categories, with heifers ranging from 400kg to 500kg averaging €2.43/kg.

The top percentile of the heifers in this weight range averaged €2.71/kg, with some of the store types averaging €2.16/kg.

This Parthenaise-cross cow, born March 2013 and weighing 705kg, sold for €1,380 (€1.96/kg).

This Salers-cross bullock, born March 2021 and weighing 540kg, sold for €1,540 (€2.85/kg).

This Charolais-cross heifer, born May 2021 and weighing 435kg, sold for €1,320 (€3.03/kg).

These four Limousin-cross heifers, born March to May 2021 and weighing 417kg, sold for €1,100 (€2.64/kg).

This Charolais-cross cow, born March 2011 and weighing 840kg, sold for €2,190 (€2.60/kg).

This pen of four Charolais-cross heifers, born January and March 2021 and weighing 592kg, sold for €1,550 (€2.62/kg).

This Charolais-cross heifer, born April 2021 and weighing 605kg, sold for €1,640 (€2.71/kg).

Heavier heifers in the 500kg to 600kg category typically ranged from €2.30/kg to €2.75/kg, with one Limousin-cross heifer weighing 565kg selling for €1,780 (€3.15/kg).

Heifers weighing over 600kg averaged at an increased price of €2.66/kg, with some of the top-quality heifers fetching up to €2.90/kg.

Also on the rise were bullock prices, with bullocks weighing in the 400kg to 500kg weight range up almost 20c/kg on the week previous, setting an average of €2.45/kg across all breeds.

There was a large entry of bullocks weighing between 500kg and 600kg and they typically ranged in price from €2.10/kg to €2.85/kg. The average price fetched for bullocks over 600kg was €2.60/kg, but, in general, they ranged from €2.32/kg to €2.80/kg.

This Limousin-cross cow, born January 2016 and weighing 740kg, sold for €2,000 (€2.70/kg).

This Limousin-cross bullock, born May 2021 and weighing 550kg, sold for €1,530 (€2.78/kg).

This Simmental cow, born February 2017 and weighing 810kg, sold for €1,890 (€2.33/kg).

This pair of Charolais-cross heifers, born June 2021 and weighing 455kg, sold for €1,250 (€2.75/kg).

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, spokesperson for the mart Michael Francis Murphy commented: “Numbers are beginning to fall slightly, but that is expected this time of year.

“We have had a very good number of months here in Athenry, with exceptionally strong sales to match the exceptional quality of cattle that is being brought forward for sale.”