Animal quality paid out at Skibbereen Mart’s weanling show and sale last Friday.

At the top end of proceedings, there was up to €2.90/kg available for forward U grade stock.

Prices for R grading weanlings came back to €2.30 and this varied on weight, age and conformation.

Heavy bull weanlings over 400kg were a good trade, with those suited to the under-16-month bull system well sought after by specialist finishers.

At the other end of the scale, prices dipped below €2/kg for those unlikely to grade as R.

It was a similar trade for heifers, with most making €300 with their weight for better-quality types. The top-quality heifer was much sought after also, with up to €2.60/kg available.

It was back between €1.90/kg and €2.10/kg for plainer weanling heifers, with a little less demand for these plainer types.

Speaking after the sale, manager Tom McCarthy said: “Quality cattle are making the grade and plainer cattle are suffering. The good continental and even Angus and Hereford stores, there’s no bother in selling them and there’s plenty buyers.

“They wouldn’t be far back on last year’s prices, but P grade or stock that are pushing it in terms of age and weight for age are a tougher sell.”

The majority of better-quality forward store Angus and Herefords were selling from €1.70/kg to €1.90/kg, depending on quality.

In the cow sale, boner cows are making €1/kg or from their weight to about €100 with the weight for the better ones, while fleshed cows continue to sell for around €300 with the €/kg.

Commenting on both the cow and weanling trade, Tom said:“There is a fine trade for weanlings. Numbers won’t start to turn out around here until about October.

“While plainer cattle are a tougher sell, what was there made enough. There were no real bargains in the sale really.

“We had some serious customers for quality cattle. Cows have been the backbone of the trade all year. They probably dipped a little a month ago, but they’re back up.”

Commission rates for adult cattle are 1.5% to the seller, with an entry fee of €2.50 and a minimum charge of €9.50/head, and €9 to the buyer.