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There were plenty buyers present, but mainly for the good-quality cattle.
This has been a feature in sales in the past 12 months, with a noticeable swing away from average to plainer quality cattle at most sales in the west.
Surging in-calf heifers
The cow ring was packed to the rafters for a special sale of 40 in-calf heifers which were sold by a Claremorris farmer.
Most of those on offer were in-calf to Limousin AI bull ZAG, with a high proportion calving in November and December, and some calving up to February.
The trade was quite strong, especially for the better-quality types.
The majority of those on offer were good-quality red and black Limousin heifers.
This 695kg Limousin cross five-star in-calf heifer born January 2015 sold for €1,720.
This 645kg Limousin cross four-star in-calf heifer born November 2014 and due 17 December to Limousin AI bull ZAG sold for €1,810.
This 660kg Charolais cross in-calf heifer born May 2014 and due 2 February to Limousin AI bull ZAG sold for €1,750.
This 620kg Limousin cross in-calf five-star heifer born April 2015 and due 19 November to Limousin AI bull ZAG sold for €1,700.
This 700kg black Limousin cross in-calf heifer born April 2015 and due 21 January to a Limousin sold for €1,650.
The best-quality types sold mainly from €1,600 to €1,800/head, with a reluctance to sell for less than €1,600/head.
Farmer buyers were active but they focused on the quality of heifer on offer more so than stars.
Weight carries the steer
Bullocks over 600kg sold for about twice their weight for average-quality types.
Plainer types made from €1.75/kg to €1.85/kg, while the top third sold mainly from €700 to €780 over.
Stores from 500kg to 600kg were a solid trade on last week, but again for the better-quality continental types.
This 420kg Charolais cross bullock born May 2016 sold for €1,085 (€2.58/kg).
This 615kg Charolais cross bullock born March 2016 sold for €1,140 (€1.85/kg).
This 565kg Charolais cross bullock born March 2016 sold for €1,105 (€1.96/kg).
This 715kg Charolais cross bullock born April 2015 sold for €1,560 (€2.18/kg).
This 490kg Limousin cross bullock born October 2015 sold for €1,085 (€2.21/kg).
The average 550kg steer sold mainly from €600 to €700 over the weight, with U grades making €700 to €800 over the weight.
Stores from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg or from €550 to €670 over the weight, with most better-quality 450kg to 500kg types selling for €1,050 to €1,100.
Plain heifers struggle
The heifer ring was similar to last week.
The average heifer was a little harder sold than the equivalent bullock. Heifers over 600kg were the best trade, with good-quality types selling from €1,250/head to €1,450/head.
Those from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €2/kg to €2.10/kg for average-quality types, with top-quality U grades making from €650 to €750 over and some top-quality types making over €800 along with the weight.
Heifers weighing between 400kg and 500kg sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg for average-quality types and from €2.40/kg to €2.50/kg or from €630 to €700 over the weight for better-quality types.
Mart prices: Charolais the king in Carrigallen
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