Roscrea mart held its annual January female fatstock show and sale on Friday.

Manager Michael Harty said the trade was positive, particularly in light of beef price pressure. The trade was helped by what Michael described as an excellent yard of cattle with some super quality heavy cows and heifers on offer.

Butcher and wholesale buyers competed with factory agents for these types and with a greater range of buyers present, prices for stock that might otherwise being deemed over-age were largely unaffected.

This Belgian Blue cross heifer, born March 2017 and weighing 790kg, sold for €2,125 (€2.69/kg). This was also the reserve champion at the show.

Top prices for quality show heifers ranged from €2.30/kg to €2.70/kg on average with the overall champion of the show selling for the top price of €2.92kg for a 770kg Belgian Blue cross heifer.

The trade for non-show heifers was also brisk with good R and U grading heifers weighing 650kg to 800kg selling from €2.00/kg for some aged lots to €2.20/kg for quality U grading heifers.

There was also a strong trade for forward store heifers with top-quality continental lots selling from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg while nice-quality Hereford and Angus cross heifers sold from €1.85/kg to €1.95/kg upwards.

This Charolais heifer, born January 16 and weighing a massive 905kg, sold for €1,990 (€2.20/kg).

As mentioned already, there were some super-quality cows on offer. Heavy R and U grading cows sold from €1.80/kg to €2.15/kg with a few exceptional quality Blue cows above this range. Lesser quality cows sold back to €1.55/kg to €1.70/kg while some O grading and feeding cows sold from €1.35/kg upwards.

Scroll through the photo carousel to get a good reflection of the trade and read more in next week's paper.

This Belgian Blue cross heifer, born September 2016 and weighing 665kg, sold for €1,850 (€2.78/kg). This was also the reserve champion at the show.

This 790kg Charolais cross heifer, born May 2016, sold for €1,900 (€2.41/kg).

This 680kg Limousin cross heifer, born May 16, sold for €1,480 (€2.18/kg).

This Aberdeen Angus cross heifer, born March 2016 and weighing 680kg, sold for €1,460 (€2.15/kg).

This Charolais heifer, born January 2016 and weighing 690kg, sold for €1,500 (€2.17/kg).

This aged Blonde d'Aquitaine cross heifer, born May 15 and weighing 755kg, sold for €1,550 (€2.00/kg).

This top-quality Limousin cow, weighing 945kg, sold for €2,018 (€2.14/kg).

This Belgian Blue cow, weighing 800kg, sold for €2,180 (€2.72/kg ).

This Salers cross cow, born March 2014 and weighing 750kg, sold for €1,080 (€1.31/kg).

This 800kg Simmental heifer, born February 16, sold for €1,680 (€2.10/kg).

This Limousin cross cow, born June 2006 and weighing 720kg, sold for €1,120 (€1.56/kg).

This top-quality Limousin x Blue cross heifer, born January 17 and weighing 595kg, sold for €1,600 (€2.68/kg).

This Limousin cow, born July 2011 and weighing 725kg, sold for €1,140 (€1.57/kg).

This Belgian Blue cross heifer, born November 16 and weighing 605kg, sold for €1,590 (€2.63/kg).

This well-conformed Belgian Blue cross heifer, born November 16 and weighing 605kg, sold for €1,570 (€2.60/kg).

This Blonde d'Aquitaine cross heifer, born October 2016 and weighing 600kg, sold for €1,410 (€2.35/kg).

This Parathenaise cross heifer, born January 2016 and weighing 760kg, sold for €1,540 (€2.00/kg).

This Hereford cross heifer, born May 16 and weighing 735kg, sold for €1,410 (€1.92/kg).

This Hereford cross heifer, born March 17 and weighing 485kg, sold for €930 (€1.91/kg).

This Simmental cross heifer, born February 17 and weighing 480kg, sold for €1,100 (€2.29/kg).

This Limousin cross heifer, born September 16 and weighing 580kg, sold for €1,400 (€2.41/kg ).

This Charolais cow, born in 2007 and weighing 950kg, sold for €1,680 (€1.77/kg).