There was a good entry of cattle at the Skibbereen annual fatstock show and sale on Friday.

Jim Horgan of Dawn Meats judging the overall champion at Skibbereen mart fatstock show and sale.

Champion of the show and sale went to a Belgian blue cross heifer belonging to John Cullinane, Ballineen. The January 2017-born heifer weighed 905kg and made €2,650, €2.93/kg.

The reserve champion heifer of the fatstock show and sale. Born in March 2017, she weighed 640kg and sold for €1,900, €2.97/kg.

Reserve champion went to Mervyn Busteed, Bandon, for a Belgian blue cross heifer. The March 2017-born animal weighed 640kg and sold for €1,900, €2.97/kg.

An August 2016-born heifer, weighing 635kg she sold for €1,480, €2.33/kg.

An October 2017-born heifer. She weighed 420kg and sold for €1,000, €2.38/kg.

Improvement

In the general sale there was an improved cow trade compared to recent weeks, according to manager Tom McCarthy. A solid showing of forward suckler cows helped but fleshed Friesians sold well too.

A 2012-born cow. She weighed 770kg and sold for €1,000, €1.30/kg.

Prices for these ranged from €1.15/kg to €1.30/kg. This is about 10c/kg back on the same time last year.

Suckler cows requiring further feeding were selling in the same price range. Parlour cows were making €0.85/kg to €1.05/kg.

This 2012-born cow weighed 725kg and sold for €1,040, €1.44/kg.

A 2012-born cow, weighing 670kg she sold for €990, €1.48/kg.

Show stock

Forward beef cows made up to €1.60/kg, the exceptions being the show class cows where the top cows sold from €2/kg up to €2.24/kg.

Champion cow of the sale, this 2014-born animal weighed 895kg and sold for €2,000, €2.24/kg.

This 2013-born cow weighed 915kg and sold for €1,890, €2.07/kg.

Cow sample prices

  • One Belgian blue, 895kg – €2,000, €2.24/kg.
  • One Friesian, 770kg – €1,000, €1.30/kg.
  • One Aubrac, 695kg – €1,050, €1.51/kg.
  • Three Limousin, 661kg – €930, €1.41/kg.
  • One Angus, 855kg – €1,370, €1.60/kg.
  • In what was the penultimate sale of the 2018 calendar for Skibbereen, bullocks made from €250 to €700 with their weight.

    Bullock sample prices

  • Two Hereford, 462kg – €865, €1.87/kg.
  • Three Hereford, 623kg – €1,100, €1.77/kg.
  • Three Angus, 720kg – €1,285, €1.79/kg.
  • Two Belgian blue, 345kg – €1,000, €2.90/kg.
  • One Charolais, 465kg – €965, €2.08/kg.
  • Summary of other stock

    Heifers sold from €250 to €800 over the €/kg. There were also 160 weanlings on offer and across dairy and suckler stock, these sold for between €220 and €520 with their weight.

    Read more

    Long read: the suckler switch – moving from dairy to beef

    Drohan suckler clearance sale