Numbers in marts are dropping off now as we near the middle of December and the general sale in Birr on Monday was no different, with 280 cattle on offer. Around 100 bullocks and 180 females made up the number.

The smaller numbers met with a lively trade.

Bullocks

There was over 100 bullocks. The average price paid for bullocks weighing from 400kg to 500kg was €1.89/kg. Hereford- and Angus-cross animals could be purchased for €1.65/kg up to €1.95/kg. Continentals topped out at just over €2.30/kg.

From 500kg to 600kg, there was 30 bullocks sold at an average of €1.78/kg. Friesians put a floor under the market at €1.29/kg to €1.58/kg. Traditional dairy beef-crosses went from €1.53/kg to €1.96/kg. A small selection of continentals maxed out at €2.29/kg.

Heavy bullocks weighing over 600kg sold for an average price of €1.82/kg. Best quality could command 15c/kg above the average, while plainer lots were 20c/kg the wrong side of the average.

Heifers

Lighter store heifers from 350kg to 400kg sold for an average price of €1.90/kg. Best-quality heifers commanded close to €2/kg, while plainer dairy-crosses settled for back on €1.80/kg down to €1.50/kg.

Moving up the weights, stores from 400kg to 500kg averaged €1.85/kg. Better lots here were securing over €1.95/kg and maxed out at €2.12/kg. Plainer stores were selling for below €1.70/kg.

Heavier 500kg to 600kg heifers were a good trade and averaged €1.85/kg. Better-quality lots were making over €2/kg and topped out at €2.15/kg. Plainer ones were back at €1.70/kg, down to €1.50/kg.

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.