Saturday’s sale at Dowra Mart saw a good entry of cattle on offer considering the time of year. The trade was quite good for all good-quality cattle, but some of the plainer stock on offer were hard sold at times.

Better-quality continental cattle were met with the strongest demand, while some small numbers of dairy cross cattle were a little more of a mixed trade.

While the first sales in August are quite small in most areas for cattle, it was refreshing to see the large entry of good-quality stock. There was a good entry of 2017-born bull weanlings, many of which were quite heavy. Demand for these was strong, with most spring 2017-born bulls over 420kg selling from €1,000 to €1,150.

The quality on offer helped to keep a good floor under the trade.

There was a share of lighter weanling bulls on offer, with those from 300kg to 400kg selling mainly from €800 to €900 for the better-quality types. There were some plainer lots on offer also, which sold from €700 to €800.

This Charolais-cross bullock, born May 2017 and weighing 470kg, sold for €1,140 (€2.43/kg).

This Limousin-cross bull, born April 2017 and weighing 455kg, sold for €960 (€2.11/kg).

This Charolais-cross bullock, born January 2017 and weighing 545kg, sold for €1,090 (€2.00/kg).

This Charolais-cross bullock, born March 2017 and weighing 475kg, sold for €1,065 (€2.2/4kg).

This Charolais-cross bull born April 2017 and weighing 410kg, sold for €1,055 (€2.57/kg).

This Limousin-cross bull born June 2017 and weighing 440kg, sold for €1,025 (€2.33/kg).

This Charolais-cross bull, born March 2017 and weighing 470kg, sold for €1,050 (€2.23/kg).

There was a good number of sheep on offer, but most of the lambs were stores. While fleshed lambs were a strong trade, with factory and butchers type lambs similar to last week. The stores are still back on last year, with a lack of grass in the midlands and south leading to reduced demand compared with the same time last year.

Additional sale in Headford due to drought

For the first time in 40 years, Headford Mart held a Saturday sale on the week of the Galway Races. There is usually no sale on race week but, due to small numbers in recent sales on account of the drought, the decision was made to hold one. Numbers were still small but the trade was good. Bullocks sold to €2.60/kg, with a 725kg bullock selling at €2.23/kg. Light stores sold to €1,080 for 415kg. Heifers sold from €390 to €605 along with the weight, with a 295kg Charolais heifer making over €3.05/kg. Weanling bulls were a strong trade where the quality on offer was good; prices ranged from €2.30/kg to €3.00/kg. Cull cows sold from €540 to €1,160, while lambs sold from €71 to €105. Ewe hoggets sold up to €134 while cull ewes sold to €93/head.

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