Viewers logged on to martbids.ie on Friday for the first online weekly sale in Roscrea. Of the 380 animals going forward for sale, 308 met trade representing a healthy average of over 81%. This was a very positive report given the sale had no live buyers around the ring. Instead, all used the app or website.

Top-quality entry

Central Auctions manager Michael Hearty said: “We’re very happy with the trade today. There was a top-quality entry with some great heifers, in particular. These lots were met with a strong farmer demand. Anything that bit more forward with flesh met a very good trade. Overall, we are very happy with our first online sale in Roscrea.”

Trade was topped with a call of €1,580 for a 705kg Limousin cross heifer. This shapely two-year-old sold for €2.24/kg.

The overall heifer trade was positive. It averaged between €2.06/kg and €2.12/kg across the different weight categories.

The upper end of these again saw a premium reaching an average of €2.33/kg.

Steers

In the bullock section, fit steers demanded the higher prices with those over 500kg peaking at €2.41/kg. Overall, the top third of these weights came in at €2.22/kg.

Younger steers and those failing to break the 500kg mark were harder to get into the money with 77 averaging €1.92/kg.