The favourable forecast ahead of last week’s show and sale in Loughrea Mart hit at the right time attracting buyers sourcing cattle for summer grazing systems.

Manager Jimmy Cooney said the upturn in weather raised optimism and gave farmers, who had held off buying, more confidence. He said there was an excellent demand for tight supplies of store bullocks and heifers in the 440kg to 540kg weight bracket.

Prices for good-quality R and U grade continentals ranged from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg, with lighter and top-quality lots selling to €2.50/kg and higher. Plainer-quality types and beef cattle bred from the dairy herd sold back to €2.00/kg.

Firm demand has developed in recent weeks for slaughter-fit cattle and Jimmy says mart sales are a good option for stock that factories deem out-of-spec that sellers with small numbers may have difficulty trading.

Heavy bullocks over 700kg sold from €1.95/kg to €2.05/kg. Lighter slaughter-fit heifers sold from €2.00/kg to €2.35/kg.

A large percentage of cull cows on offer were aged cows, which limited demand. Old suckler feeding cows sold from €1.40/kg to €1.50/kg, with younger cows rising to €1.70/kg to €1.80/kg. A small entry of Friesian store cows weighing 500kg to 550kg sold from €100 to €150 over.

Demand has outstripped supply this spring for suckler cows with calves at foot. Prices in recent weeks for good-quality young cows have ranged from €1,400 to €1,600, with a top of €1,830 paid last week for a second-calf Simmental-cross cow with a good-quality strong heifer calf at foot.

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