Sixmilebridge Mart manager Sean Ryan said last Saturday’s clearance sale of a 50-cow suckler herd and entry of 10 in-calf heifers attracted strong interest from farmers looking to source suckler replacements. Many of the cows on offer were pedigree Limousins, which gave an added dimension.

Nine of the 13 cows with calves at foot sold from €2,000 to €2,500, with an average price of €2,200. Less than 50% of the 37 in-calf cows offered sold, with prices ranging from €1,150 to €2,000 with one 840kg Limousin cow selling to a top of €3,250.

There was strong interest for cows which did not sell, but these did not match the valuation of the seller. The special entry of 10 in-calf heifers were in the region of 700kg to 740kg liveweight, calving in December and January, and sold from €1,400 to €1,680, with an average price of €1,513.

Continental steers weighing upwards of 500kg sold from €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg on average, while heifers of similar weight sold from €1.95/kg to €2.15/kg, with some top-quality U-grading heifers entered selling to €2.38/kg. Weanling bulls weighing 280kg to 380kg sold from €2.20/kg to €2.50/kg on average, with the best-quality lots rising to €2.70/kg to €2.80/kg. Heifers were a similar trade, with some dairy crossbreds from €1.70/kg to €1.95/kg.