Pics and prices: Over 200 cows on offer at Kilkenny Mart

A large cattle sale – consisting of 1,400 animals – was witnessed in Kilkenny Mart, Cillin Hill, on Thursday last (May 10).

George Candler, the mart’s auctioneer, explained that both beef and forward cattle are becoming scarce. He also added that the quality continental animals offered met an excellent trade.

However, he noted that plainer, lighter cattle were more difficult to sell. On this, he said: “On reflection, many of the lighter, dairy-influenced animals would have achieved just as good of a return if they were sold as calves.

“Some of these animals are now selling for €380-480/head. It would have taken considerable feed and time to get them this far,” he added.

Bullocks

Beef bullocks sold for €2.10-2.45/kg, while forward store lots traded for €850-1,490/head or €1.70-2.70/kg.

Prices achieved by lighter animals varied depending on quality. Good-quality steers sold to a top price of €3.05/kg. Plainer steers – particularly those of dairy origin – proved a more difficult trade.

Bullocks weighing 400-500kg traded for €1.70-3.05/kg, while steers (<400kg) traded at €550-1,090 head. A top price of €1,820/head was achieved by two Charolais bullocks weighing 745kg.

Click on a thumbnail in the gallery (below) to open up a full-size image; once opened you can scroll sideways to see the next picture. Refer to each caption to see details of each lot, including the sale price.

: This 750kg, March-2016 born, Charolais steer sold for €2.40/kg

: These 363kg, April and May-2016 born, Hereford bullocks made €750 or €2.06/kg

: These 715kg, February and August-2015 born, Parthenaise and Charolais steers made €1,680 or €2.34/kg

: These 344kg, January and February-2017 born, Belgian Blue bullocks sold for €780 or €2.26/kg

: This 615kg, April-2016 born, Limousin bullock sold for €1,610 or €2.61/kg

: This 710kg, November-2015 born, Hereford steer made €1,500 or €2.11/kg

: These 449kg, June-2016 and February-2017 born, Charolais bullocks made €1,360 or €3.03/kg

: These 571kg, March-2016 and January-2017 born, Limousin steers made €1,380 or €2.41/kg

: These 523kg, March and April-2016 born, Limousin bullocks sold for €1,300 or €2.48/kg

Heifers

Quality heifers also met a good trade, with lighter lots peaking at €1,030/head. In general, butcher lots made €2.00-2.45/kg, €2.00-2.75/kg was paid for the forward store lots and the lighter store classes (<400kg) made €1.45-2.90/kg.

: This 320kg, April-2017 born, Aberdeen Angus heifer made €560 or €1.75/kg

: These 398kg, June and July-2017 born, Charolais heifers made €1,005 or €2.52/kg

: This 400kg, March-2017 born, Simmental heifer sold for €920 or €2.30/kg

: These 315kg, February and March-2017 born, Limousin heifers sold for €780 or €2.47/kg

: These 308kg, April and June-2017 born, Limousin heifers sold for €840 or €2.72/kg

: These 401kg, January and March-2017 born, Limousin heifers sold for €1,100 or €2.74/kg

: These 398kg, March and April-2017 born, Limousin heifers made €1,035 or €2.60/kg

: These 393kg, January and April-2017 born, Limousin heifers made €2.35/kg

: These 448kg, 4-star, April-2016 and January-2017 born, Limousin heifers sold for €1,070 or €2.38/kg

: This 510kg, January-2017 born, Blonde d’Aquitaine heifer made €1,260 or €2.47/kg

: These 397kg, January and April-2016 born, Angus and Limousin heifers sold for €810 or €2.04/kg

: These 435kg, 4-star, March-2016 and January-2017 born, Limousin heifers made €995 or €2.28/kg

Cows

Over 200 cull cows went under the hammer at the Leinster-based venue. These lots met a brisk trade and a 100% clearance rate was recorded. Friesian lots traded for €1.10-1.90/kg, while continental types sold for €1.30-2.30/kg.