It was Kanturk Mart’s big day of the year with the annual fat stock show and sale drawing in an entry of 105 animals alongside the 400 cattle in the general sale.

Hereford and Angus bullocks dominated the store numbers and they sold from €230 to €450 with their weight. Friesian bullocks were selling for between €1.45/kg and €1.60/kg.

This bullock was the champion of the show. Born in April 2017, he weighed 980kg and sold for €2,200 (€2.25/kg).

For cull cows, €200 over and under the weight was the going rate for Friesian cows, be they fleshed or straight from the parlour. There was a shake more available for sucklers.

Speaking after the sale, mart manager Seamus O’Keeffe said: “The show numbers were similar to last year. We might have had a higher turnout only for some of our annual exhibitors [are] locked up with TB at the moment.

This January 2018-born Charolais-cross heifer weighing 550kg sold for €990 (€1.80/kg).

“It’s a big occasion and it means a lot to the locality. Marts are much more than a place to sell cattle in rural Ireland. You had plenty there who wouldn’t be buying or selling, so it’s a good outlet for people to meet up.

This October 2017-born Simmental-cross heifer weighing 720kg sold for €1,800 (€2.50/kg)

“Farmers were accepting of prices. They know that the current climate is a bit tough at the moment for finished cattle.

“There was two cattle unsold from the fat stock, but other than that we had a full clearance, so I was reasonably happy,” said Seamus.

At the upper end of the sale, prices topped out at €2,300 for a 535kg heifer, with the majority of top-quality types selling from €1,600 to €1,800/head. The champion bullock weighed 980kg and sold for €2,200.

This March 2018-born Limousin-cross heifer weighing 565kg sold for €1,240 (€2.20/kg).

“You’d like to see farmers get a bit more for the older cattle, but it’s not there at the moment. The bigger cattle aren’t making what they should and it’s disappointing. We saw cattle today that normally would have been killed a month or two ago, but factories weren’t taking them.

“Trade has been picking up over the last few weeks. That is very welcome, because with the factories closed and Brexit uncertainty in September and October, that made buyers a bit nervous for a while and that had a bit of an impact on numbers for a bit.

This 2013-born Simmental-cross cow weighing 845kg sold for €1,550 (€1.83/kg).

“We’re after seeing things bounce back well and have had bigger sales. You’d really see it in the cows. These last two weeks, cull numbers are rising. You wouldn’t blame farmers for milking on. They’ll have a decent milk cheque for Christmas now,” he said.