Tuesday’s general cattle sale at Fermoy Mart saw a seasonally good entry of about 700 cattle and 300 calves on offer. Mart manager Sean Leahy said that the main talking point at recent sales was the cow trade.

This Limousin-cross bullock, weighing 515kg and born July 2017, sold for €975 (€1.89/kg).

On Tuesday, there were about 100 on offer and these were mostly forward types and parlour cows.

For better-quality cows, Sean said that prices received in the mart on Tuesday were in excess of any of the factory prices on offer.

This Angus-cross bullock, weighing 380kg and born February 2018, sold for €740 (€1.95/kg).

He urged farmers that before sending cows direct for slaughter, that farmers should sit down and analyse prices in the marts first and see which will attract the best price.

This Charolais-cross bullock, weighing 418kg and born February 2018, sold for €895 (€2.14/kg).

The best demand was for forward cows, with most short-keep Friesian cows making €300 to €350 along with the weight and more at times.

These four Charolais-cross bullocks, weighing 418kg and born Feb/March 2018, sold for €895 (€2.14/kg).

In terms of numbers on offer, there were about 100 on Tuesday, which was back on the previous week, but Sean thinks that numbers over the summer months will hover around the 100 head mark.

This Angus-cross heifer, weighing 520kg and born February 2017, sold for €1,110 (€2.13/kg).

The bullock trade was strong also, with lots of demand for all types. Anything over 400kg was met with strong demand and this increased as you went up in weight. Bullocks over 500kg were very easily sold.

This Limousin bullock, weighing 565kg and born April 2017, sold for €1,110 (€1.96/kg).

Most Angus and Hereford bullocks were selling for around the €2.00/kg, while continentals sold from €2.00/kg to €2.15/kg.

Sean said that lighter Friesians under 400kg were a slower trade and particularly lighter bullocks from 300kg to 350kg.

This Limousin-cross heifer, weighing 600kg and born March 2017, sold for €1,180 (€1.97/kg).

These sold mainly from €100 to €200 over the weight, while stronger Friesian types over 370kg sold from €640 to €650/head.

This Hereford-cross heifer, weighing 555kg and born April 2017, sold for €1,050 (€1.89/kg).

Heifers were a better trade than bullocks, with more demand at the ringside. Sean said that there was a 100% clearance in the heifer sale. The majority of good-quality heifers over 400kg sold mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.15/kg, but there were some under the €2.00/kg mark also.

This Aberdeen Angus-cross heifer, weighing 590kg and born January 2017, sold for €1,160 (€1.97/kg).

There were about 300 calves available also and Sean said that the trade was as strong as any year.

Almost-weaned Hereford and Angus calves were selling from €300 to €400/head, while Friesians that were almost weaned made from €180 to €270/head.

This Limousin-cross bullock, weighing 352kg and born May 2018, sold for €880 (€2.50/kg).

Export demand for all three- to four-week-old calves was strong.

Commission rates are 1.5% to the seller and 2.5% to the buyer.

This Hereford bullock, weighing 382kg and born April 2018, sold for €770 (€2.02/kg).