Last Tuesday’s general cattle sale at Enniscorthy Mart saw another good entry of cattle on offer. Mart manager Tommy Harrington said that the trade was good for all good-quality forward cattle, but like all other parts of the country, he said that where light plain stock were on offer, they were harder sold.

There were about 500 cattle on offer between bullocks, heifers and cows.

At the top of the market, heavy continental bullocks over 600kg sold from €2.00kg to €2.16/kg, while some Hereford and Angus bullocks sold from €1.70/kg to €1.80/kg.

Forward stores from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €600 to €700 along with the weight for continentals, while Friesians were a tougher sale, but still the majority of these were sold. Friesians sold from €1.30/kg to €1.60/kg or from €150 to €300 over the weight.

The majority of bullocks on offer were stores from 400kg to 500kg. These sold mainly from €500 to €600 over the weight for better-quality continental types, while better-quality Friesians made from €200 to €250 along with the weight. Lighter plain Friesians sold from €150 to €250 along with the weight.

Light bullocks from 300kg upwards sold mainly from €300 to €500 over the weight for better-quality types, while Friesians were a tough trade and sold mainly from €25 under the weight to €65 along with the weight.

Heavy heifers over 600kg were a slightly stronger trade than the equivalent bullock, with the best prices running at €690 to €725 along with the weight.

Those from 550kg to 600kg sold mainly from €500 to €590 along with the weight for good continentals. Those from 500kg to 550kg ranged from €500 to €600 along with the weight for continentals to €300 to €450 over the weight for Angus and Herefords.

Heifers from 450kg to 500kg were mixed, with quality having a major effect on prices. Plain continentals and dairy-crosses made from €220 to €350 along with the weight, while better-quality continental types sold from €400 to €675 over for the top heifer.

Light heifers from 380kg to 450kg sold mainly from €400 to €500 over for better-quality types, with plain heifers making from €300 to €400 over, bur clearance rates in light heifers were lower.

Commission rates are €10 to the buyer and 1.25% to 1.5% to the seller.