Carnew Mart in Co. Wicklow hosted its 44th annual fatstock show and sale of bullocks and bulls on Saturday (January 25) with more than 1,000 head of cattle on offer.

Carnew Mart's Eugene Clune said the sale seen "a type of trade that has never been seen before with some truly magical prices achieved for the exceptional quality beef cattle on show".

Commenting on some of the top prices on the day, Clune said: "The trade took off on Saturday morning and only continued to get hotter as the day unfolded.

The top-priced bullock was owned by Patsy Fortune and weighing 1,124kg, the bullock sold for €4,850 or €4.32/kg.

Another 846kg Charolais bullock owned by Dereck Rothwell made €4,060 or €4.79/kg and a 664kg Limousin bullock owned by Ricky Brennan made €2,800 or €4.21/kg.

A pair of 715kg Limousin-cross bullocks owned by Abe Waldron sold for €2,900 or €4.06/kg while another pair of Limousin-cross bullocks weighing 856kg from the same owner made €3,290 or €3.84/kg.

In the non-continental breeds, a 708kg Shorthorn-cross bullock owned by Joe Dowling made €2,320 or €3.28/kg. Another two Hereford-cross bullocks owned by Henry Steacy weighed 596kg and 603kg and made €2,000 and €2,020 respectively (€3.35/kg).

Store bullocks made up to €4.35/kg for a 644kg Belgian Blue bullock that made €2,800 or €4.35/kg owned by Viv Langrell. Another 602kg Belgian Blue bullock from the sale owner made €2,520 or €4.19/kg. A 756kg Charolais bullock made €2,700 or €3.57/kg.

In the weanling bulls, the best continental bull weanling was owned by Shay Hayden. Weighing 546kg, this Belgian Blue cross bull sold for €3,000 or €5.49/kg.

A lighter 380kg Belgian Blue bull calf owned by Owen O'Neill made €1,740 or €4.58/kg and another 374kg Limousin bull owned by Maurice Wafer made €1,690 or €4.52/kg.

The mart venue will host its cow fatstock sale this Friday (January 31) and the fatstock show and sale of heifers on Saturday (February 1).