Ennis Mart reported a sharper trade for a larger entry of approximately 250 cows in their sale on Thursday. The mart reported that there was some excellent-quality cows on offer which also boosted demand.

The price for the top third of cows increased by 13c/kg, according to MartBids analysis, lifting the price above €4/kg to an average of €4.07/kg.

Almost 50 of these top-quality cows sold from €4/kg to €4.30/kg with a handful of cows exceeding this range and selling to a top of €4.69/kg for a 44 month old Limousin-cross cow weighing 650kg. Lesser-quality continental and traditional breed crosses sold from €3/kg to €3.80/kg with a few top-quality Friesian cows at the lower end of this price range.

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The majority of Friesian cows on offer sold from €2.20/kg to €2.90/kg. While a small number of aged cows lacking considerable flesh cover sold from €1.50/kg to €1.95/kg. There were 14 aged bulls on offer and these averaged €3.70/kg with a Limousin bull weighing 960kg selling for €3,920, a Simmental bull weighing 1,000kg making €3,760, a Charolais bull weighing 1,040kg selling for €3,680 and the hammer falling on a 980kg Limousin bull at €3,800.

Heifer trade

The trade for 2024-born heifers was steady while the trade for 2023-born heifers was described as a bit easier. MartBids data shows heifers weighing from 400kg to 500kg easing by an average of 10c/kg on last week’s prices.

The top third of heifers still averaged above €5/kg at a price of €5.16/kg. The average price was recorded at €4.39/kg with the bottom third at €3.59/kg. The top third of heifers weighing 500kg to 600kg averaged €4.55/kg with the average price at €4.15/kg and the bottom third at €3.75/kg.

Meanwhile heifers weighing in excess of 600kg averaged €4.11/kg with the price for the top third recorded at €4.38/kg and the bottom third at €3.81/kg.

Watch

This quality Limousin-cross cow weighing 655kg and born 26/02/22 sold for €3,070 (€4.69/kg).

Weighing 785kg this Limousin cow born 31/05/19 sold for €3,610 (€4.60/kg).

This young Belgian Blue-cross cow born 23/02/21 and weighing 800kg sold for €3,570 (€4.46/kg).

This heavy 1,100kg Charolais-cross cow born 06/06/21 sold for €4,710 (€4.28/kg).

This fed Limousin-cross cow weighing 660kg and born 26/02/15 sold for €2,780 (€4.21/kg).

This Parthenaise cow weighing 640kg and born 25/09/16 sold for €2,580 (€4.03/kg).

This aged Charolais-cross cow born 17/03/09 and weighing 765kg sold for €2,960 (€3.87/kg).

Weighing 720kg, this Simmental-cross cow born 19/04/18 sold for €2,670 (€3.71/kg).

This 860kg Hereford-cross cow born 28/04/20 sold for €3,320 (€3.86/kg).

This February 2015-born Friesian cow weighing 555kg sold for €1,660 (€2.99/kg).

Weighing 640kg, this Friesaian cow born 16/02/16 sold for €1,710 (€2.67/kg).