Seven-hundred-and-twenty cattle from over 250 lots were sold on Monday in Mid-Tipperary Mart, Thurles.

Speaking to mart manager Martin Ryan after Monday’s general cattle sale, he said there was more optimism around the ring.

“Certainly with the improvement in weather, with Brexit making progress and with the single farm payment out, things were a nice bit better this week.”

As a result, bullocks and heifers were an easier sell. Around 570 bullocks and 130 heifers found new homes.

Bullocks

From 400kg to 500kg, bullocks averaged €1.69/kg. By breed, plainer Friesians started at €1.30/kg, with better-conformation lots pushing up to €1.65/kg.

Moving on to the traditional beef-crosses, they started at €1.65/kg and ran up to €1.85/kg, with a lot of Herefords in the higher price range.

A small selection of continentals started at €1.90/kg and topped out at €2.25/kg. Per head, €900 to €1,100 bought most of these.

Bullocks weighing 500kg to 600kg averaged €1.72/kg. The range for Friesians was about 25c/kg to €1.30/kg and climbed up to €1.55/kg for squarer cattle.

The range for Angus- and Hereford-crosses was broader at €1.55/kg to €1.90/kg.

A selection of continentals started at €1.95/kg and peaked at €2.10/kg, while €1,240 was the highest price per head, going to a 600kg Limousin-cross bullock born in February 2018.

Heavy cattle weighing 600kg-plus were averaging €1.63/kg. Plainer lots hovered around the €1.40/kg mark, while better-quality stock were capable of making over €1.90/kg consistently.

Heifers

From 400kg to 500kg, they averaged €1.90/kg. Dairy heifers and plainer beef breeds were down at €1.60/kg, while better-quality animals were up at €2.10/kg.

Heifers between 500kg and 600kg made €1.65/kg on average. Plainer dairy types sold for less than €1.30/kg, while best-quality could secure over €2/kg.

Mid-Tipperary Mart

To the seller, commission rates for bullocks, heifers and cows are €10/head for singles and €9/head for multiples, plus 0.05%. For calves, it's €8/head for a single calf plus 0.05%.

To the buyer, commission is €10/head for bullocks, heifers and cows and €7/head for calves.

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.