Mart manager Michael Harty said there was a marked sharper trade for heifers at Friday’s cattle sale in Roscrea Mart.

Overall, he said there was plenty of farmer buyers present and that was evident with an 88% clearance rate.

“A good weather forecast for next week brought farmers out looking for cattle to put to grass,” he explained.

Weather forecast a factor

"At this time of year, the weather can really dictate how a sale lays out. Last week, for example, prices were steady, but numbers were down due to high rainfall.

"Farmers held back selling as the expectation was grass buyers would be in short supply due to the wet spell," he said.

Heifers

Average prices for heifers this week weighing 350kg to 400kg was €2.27/kg. Heifers weighing 400kg to 500kg sold for an average price of €2.13/kg.

Sample prices:

  • Hereford-cross – 12mth – 397kg - €690.
  • Aberdeen Angus-cross – 22mth – 392kg - €800.
  • Charolais-cross – 15mth – 357kg - €740.
  • Belgian Blue-cross – 14mth – 400kg - €990.
  • Limousin-cross – 13mth – 355kg - €895.
  • Limousin-cross – 18mth – 400kg - €1,020.
  • Aberdeen Angus-cross – 21mth – 417kg - €745.
  • Hereford-cross – 25mth – 465kg - €870.
  • Aberdeen Angus-cross – 23mth – 431kg -€850.
  • Limousin-cross – 29mth – 500kg - €1,000.
  • Charolais-cross – 24mth – 480kg - €1,080.
  • Simmental-cross – 21mth – 410kg - €970.
  • Limousin-cross – 12mth – 422kg - €1,000.
  • Hereford-cross – 25mth – 515kg - €930.
  • Simmental-cross – 24mth – 545kg - €1,050.
  • Belgian Blue-cross – 20mth – 540kg - €1,090.
  • Limousin-cross – 27mth – 570kg - €1,215.
  • Charolais-cross – 23mth – 507kg - €1,125.
  • Limousin-cross – 24mth – 535kg - €1,255.
  • Bullocks

    Bullocks weighing 400kg to 500kg sold for an average price of €2.06/kg. Heavier bullocks weighing 500kg to 600kg sold for €2.01/kg. Bullocks over 600kg sold for €2.07/kg.

  • Limousin-cross – 18mth – 462kg - €1,200.
  • Limousin-cross – 16mth – 415kg - €1,020.
  • Simmental-cross – 14mth – 423kg - €870.
  • Aberdeen Angus – 24mth – 468kg - €955.
  • Hereford-cross – 24mth – 455kg - €925.
  • Aberdeen Angus – 24mth – 496kg - €985.
  • Limousin-cross – 13mth – 440kg - €820.
  • Aberdeen Angus – 14mth – 402kg - €725.
  • Friesian-cross – 25mth – 575kg - €865.
  • Limousin-cross – 13mth – 532kg - €940.
  • Aberdeen Angus – 24mth – 501kg - €1,055.
  • Aberdeen Angus – 23mth – 507kg - €1,100.
  • Belgian Blue-cross – 24mth – 511kg - €1,120.
  • Charolais-cross – 25mth – 687kg - €1,330.
  • Charolais-cross – 23mth – 652kg - €1,350.
  • Charolais-cross – 24mth – 810kg - €1,800.
  • Analysis for this report was generated from the MartBids app. MartBids is a collaboration between the Irish Farmers Journal and livestock marts. The app is available for download on iPhone or Android on the App Store or Google Play. With this app, all of the information that is displayed on the mart board is now available on your smartphone, long before the animal enters the sales ring.