Dingle Mart recorded its largest entry for 2018 at last Saturday’s fatstock show and sale, with 530 head on offer.

Reporting on the sale, manager Nelius McAuliffe said the trade was positive, despite a sluggish beef trade, with the sale recording a very good clearance rate of 99%, with only five cattle unsold.

Factory agents and wholesale buyers were the main bidders for the heavier continental lots, with northern and midlands interest inserting good competition into the trade.

A high percentage of good U grading steers and heifers weighing in excess of 600kg ranged in price from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg, with a selection of prizewinners rising as high as €2.60/kg on a few occasions.

Heavier lots weighing in excess of 800kg sold from €1.80/kg to €2.10/kg on average.

Butcher buyers were active for lighter Angus and Hereford heifers, with prices for lots weighing 480kg to 550kg ranging on average from €1.90/kg to €2.05/kg, with a good number hitting the €2/kg mark.

Butcher-type traditional breed bullocks were a similar trade.

Nelius said the mart’s annual throughput has been strengthened by more dairy-cross animals coming on stream.

The best trade for store heifers and bullocks is for forward types suitable for a short finish, with plainer-quality dairy-cross animals with poor weight for age a difficult trade all year.

Belgian Blue-cross heifers and better-quality Angus- and Hereford-crosses sold from €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg, with R grading continental-cross heifers selling from €1.95/kg to €2.05/kg on average, while better-quality Charolais and Limousins rose to a top of €2/kg to €2.10/kg.

The mart has also witnessed a significant increase in the number of dairy cull cows on offer in recent weeks.

The trade on Saturday was helped by specialist feeder interest for younger cows with an average coverage of flesh.

These sold from €1/kg to €1.20/kg, whereas older cows and those short of flesh sold back to 80c/kg.

Fleshed Friesian cows sold from €1.20/kg to €1.40/kg, with the best lots to €1.50/kg. A small number of heavy continental cows attracted firm interest, with prices ranging on average from €1.65/kg to €1.85/kg.

Commission rates are €10 to the buyer and €18 to the seller.