Saturday’s sale at Loughrea Mart saw a good entry of 250 cattle and cows on offer. Mart manager Jimmy Cooney said that numbers were slow in the springtime, but have started to increase in the past few weeks, but overall numbers are lower so far this year compared with last year.

He expects numbers to lift once grass growth improves in the coming weeks.

Despite the poor weather, Jimmy said that he is amazed at how strong the trade has been so far. He pointed out the seven-month retention period as being one of the drivers of demand currently, with lowly stocked farmers in the area having to source stock for that purpose.

Jimmy said that while numbers of forward cattle are low, prices are very strong, with U grade bullocks and heifers over 600kg making €900 over the weight quite easily.

R grades are making €780 to €850 over. While feeders are actively snapping up these heavy and short-keep types, farmer buyers and those from the midlands are active at the mart sourcing lighter stores.

Those from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €2.40/kg to €2.55/kg, with those over 500kg selling mainly around €2.40/kg.

Jimmy said that the main reason for the strong prices in the area is that it is a suckler stronghold and farmers are focused on producing top-quality Charolais and Limousin cattle.

The cow trade at Saturday’s sale was very strong also, with young cow-heifers selling to over €2.00/kg with ease.

All forward and short-keep cows were met with strong demand and high prices. Forward-store cows at the mart sold mainly from €1.70/kg to €1.90/kg.

Jimmy said that plainer and older cows, mostly continentals, were still a good trade for what was on offer. At the bottom of the market, they sold from €1.30/kg to €1.50/kg, depending on age and quality.

Friday’s weanling sale was brisk. Again, the quality on offer was very good, and demand was mainly farmer driven.

Having said that, there was some export demand present also.

Farmer-quality bulls and heifers from 300kg to 400kg saw prices range freely from €2.80/kg to €2.85/kg.

Commission rates are €9 to the buyer and €1.5% to the seller.