The cattle sale last Thursday at Kilkenny mart could be described as quite lively from start to finish. With a slight increase in the number of cattle on offer from last week, up to 720, cattle still sold very well on the day.
There was also an increase in prices particularly for the quality bullock lots, and also the heifers which were up by between €10 and €15 a head on the previous week.
There appears to be a good feeling about cattle sales at the present time with a number of farmers still very anxious to purchase cattle to fill their sheds for the coming winter. This situation contrasts with a number of weeks ago when cattle numbers on offer were smaller, and prices on the whole were not as good.
Bullocks
The bullocks weighing over 600 kg sold between €385 and €535 over their weight. A pair of Charolais weighing 685 kg made €1,185 each, which is equivalent to about 113 cents a lb.
The Bullocks weighing over 500kg fetched between €330 and €545 over their weight, while the bullocks weighing between 400 kg and 500 kg were priced between €250 and €440 also over their weight.
The bullocks weighing under 400kg of which there was only a very small number on offer sold between €180 and €340 also over their weight.
Heifers
All the Heifers on offer sold very well with the Beef Heifers making between €300 and €545 over their weight. Three Limousins weighing 686kg were sold for €1,230 each, while a single Charolais weighing 620kg made €1,130.
The butcher heifers were priced between €260 and €370 also over their weight, while the store heifers made between €230 and €370 over their weight.
Culled Cows
There was only a small number of culled cows on offer but they still sold very well. The continental types were priced from €100 under to €470 over their weight, while the Freisian types were sold from €40 under their weight to €225 over.
Sucklers
A small number of in-calf sucklers were priced between €720 and €1,100 each.
