The mart trade has been outperforming the factory trade in recent weeks with finished cows commanding a better price heading for the mart ring rather than the factory lairage. This has meant an increase in the number of finished animals being shown in marts with factory agents very active for the right type of stock. Dry cow numbers are also increasing week on week since January in many marts.

Heavy cows were in demand making €1.80-€1.90/kg with the higher prices going to the choice continental lots. Lesser-quality feeder cows were back towards €1.50/kg -€1.60/kg with a few bare Freisian cows around €1.10-€1.20/kg.

In the heifer ring, numbers were small but again there were customers for the top-quality heifer. Good continentals in the 400kg-500kg bracket were making a top of €2.35/kg while plainer dairy types were back around €1.90/kg.

Heavier heifers in the 500kg-600kg bracket were an equally good trade with a high of €1,090 being paid for a good-quality Limousin-cross heifer weighing 500kg. Bullocks were a little easier bought with the top prices hitting around the €2.10/kg with lesser-quality lots back around the €1.80/kg mark. Lighter dairy types were being bought around the €1.60-€1.70/kg mark.

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