There’s life in the old dog yet, if the recent suckler sale in Gortatlea Mart is anything to go by. With about 80 lots on offer, there was a full clearance, with an average price of €1,420.

Despite constant negativity in the suckler sector, there is still an appetite for stock, according to mart manager Maurice Brosnan:

“With all the doom and gloom, there are a lot of people still interested in sucklers. The place was packed. We’ve a similar sale in early September and I hope there’ll be as much interest.”

He called on the powers that be to give a bit more certainty to producers in the future.

“The Minister would badly want to intervene in the sector and at least let people know where they stand. While the situation for strong young bulls seems to be up in the air at the moment, there is still a savage demand out there for cattle.”

The bulk of the sale consisted of two clearance sales – an executor sale and one for a farmer converting to dairy. Prices for in-calf cows ranged from €1,200 to €1,700, with very few selling below the former. The top price of €1,780 went to a Limousin cow and heifer calf pair. In-calf heifers sold from €980 up to €1,460.

Commission rate at the Kerry sale venue are €12 to the seller and €10 to the buyer.