Inishowen Co-operative Mart in Carndonagh had a good entry of 570 head on offer in Monday’s general cattle sale.

Mart manager Harry Molloy said buyers were particularly active for good-quality continental cattle with scope to do a quick thrive at grass.

This 340kg Simmental bullock born 26 March 2018 sold for €860 (€2.53/kg).

Quality continental yearlings sold from €2.40/kg to €2.60/kg, with a few pens of lighter heifers with a good frame selling to a top of €3/kg.

There was a more sluggish trade for similar-quality yearlings which were fed hard over the winter.

This Charolais bull, born 08 August 2017 and weighing 714kg, sold for €1,480 (€2.07/kg).

Prices for these types ranged from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg, while plainer-quality continental stores also fell into a similar price range, with over-fleshed plainer types selling back to €2/kg in cases.

This yearling Charolais-cross heifer, born 19 March 2018 and weighing 414kg, sold for €860 (€2.07/kg).

Heavy bulls are a variable trade. There is firm feeder demand for bulls weighing 500kg to 550kg, with prices ranging from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg for good continentals.

This Hereford-cross first-calver born 2 February 2017 and Angus-sired calf born 22 March 2019 averaged 622kg and sold for €1,500.

Heavy bulls weighing upwards of 700kg and deemed out of spec on age or quality assurance status were a slower sell, ranging from €1.85/kg to €2/kg for R grading types and to €2.10/kg for U grades.

This March 2011-born Simmental cow and Simmental calf born 16 March 2019 avearged 736kg and sold for €1,480.

There were customers for a small entry of cows with calves at foot selling from €1,300 to €1,500, while young continental dry cows sold to a top of €1.80/kg to €2/kg.

Commission rates are €8 to the buyer and 1.5% (minimum €10, maximum €15) to the seller.

This 380kg Charolais-cross bullock born 28 March 2018 sold for €960 (€2.53/kg).

This aged Limousin-cross bull, born 13 September 2016 and weighing 726kg, sold for €1,340 (€1.85/kg).

This 718kg Charolais bull born 08 August 2017 sold for €1,460 (€2.03/kg).

This Simmental bull, weighing 684kg and born 20 January 2018, sold for €1,280 (€1.87/kg).

This 400kg Charolais heifer born 30 May 2018 sold for €810 (€2.03/kg).

This Aberdeen Angus-cross heifer, weighing 472kg and born 23 March 2017, sold for €830 (€1.76/kg).