The sale, which took place on Monday 14 December, had approximately 700 lots entered. The large majority of these lots were bullocks, with an entry of almost 400 lots. There were over 130 lots of heifers with the remaining lots made up of cows. There was a drop in price and demand across the board, with a significant number of lots left unsold.

High-quality Charolais and Limousin forward store bullocks weighing 600kg to 775kg dropped in price, making €2.02/kg to €2.25/kg. Demand for 2014-born bullocks remained high, with some lots making €2.50/kg.

Lighter stores weighing 450kg to 550kg sold from €2/kg to €2.33/kg, with some of the top-quality lots making €2.49/kg.

Plainer O grade and dairy lots sold as far back as €1.70/kg.

Heifer prices down, poor trade for cows

Despite a surge in the previous week, heifer prices were down. Good-quality forward stores and animals fit for slaughter sold from €2/kg to €2.24/kg. The top-quality lots sold to €2.37/kg. Lighter lots or R and U grade heifers sold from €1.90/kg to €2.10/kg. Dairy crossbreds and plainer lots sold for as little as €1.62/kg.

The buyer of the last heifer through the ring in 2015, a Belgian Blue cross, had the added bonus of a complimentary bottle of whiskey provided by the auctioneer.

Cow prices remained down. Good quality R grade cows made €1.06 /kg to €1.35/kg. Continental breeds, fit for slaughter and weighing 550kg to 700kg sold at €1.24/kg to €1.77/kg. There was very low demand for young and less fleshy and dairy cows meaning they sold as low as €0.91/kg to €1.35/kg.

Carnaross mart’s next sale takes place on Monday, 11 January 2016.