Monday evening’s sale at Kilfenora Mart saw a small seasonal entry of stock. Mart manager, Martin McNamara said the trade was quite good, with bulls reaching slightly higher prices than heifers.

This Charolais-cross heifer, born March 2019 and weighing 330kg sold for €785 (€2.38/kg).

The good silage supplies coupled with the need to source stock before the year-end for tax reasons are some of the key drivers of the improved prices, along with much improved optimism in the beef trade next year.

This Charolais-cross heifer, born May 2019 and weighing 230kg sold for €700 (€3.04/kg).

Most weanling bulls on offer were from 300kg to 350kg and these sold mainly from €2.25/kg to €2.50/kg, with some choice lots making more than that. There was a good entry of lighter bulls on offer also.

This pair of Charolais bulls, born April 2019 and weighing 318kg sold for €790 (€2.48/kg).

These were an improved trade, with many good-quality light continentals making over €650/head to €700/head and some top-quality types selling for over €3.00/kg.

This pair of Charolais-cross bulls, born April/may 2019 and weighing 315kg on average sold for €770 each (€2.44/kg).

Martin said that Tuesday’s sale at Ennis Mart saw strong demand for stores and in particular, store heifers. These sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg for average quality types.

This Charolais-cross bull, born March 2019 and weighing 345kg sold for €850 (€2.46/kg).

He added that there is renewed interest in suckler cows also, with average-quality types selling easily from €1,500 to €1,700 and to over €1,800 at times. Commission rates are 1.4% to the seller to a maximum of €13 for singles and 1.2% to a maximum of €11 for doubles, and €9 to the buyer.