There were a total of 984 head of cattle on offer at Carnew Mart's weekly cattle sale in Co. Wicklow on Saturday, February 8, with cattle meeting "an exceptional trade" according to yard manager Eugene Clune.

Clune said: "While the trade for store cattle remains exceptional with prices of up to €4.60/kg achieved for store bullocks, €4/kg is the new norm for quality beef cattle.

"Top prices for continental heifers of up to €4.30/kg were achieved with more traditional breeds of cattle, including Angus and Herefords, making in the region of €3.50/kg for both heifers and bullocks," he added.

Some of the top heifer prices from Carnew Mart's Saturday sale included:

Three Charolais heifers weighing 416kg sold for €1,590;
Limousin heifer weighing 326kg sold for €1,300;
Two Hereford heifers weighing 480kg sold for €1,580;
Two Angus heifers weighing 451kg sold for €1,500;
Simmental heifer weighing 292kg sold for €1,090;
Friesian heifer weighing 556kg sold for €1,700.

Bullocks were also a strong trade with a top price of €3,000 paid for a 782kg Belgian Blue bullock.

Sample prices from the bullock sale at Carnew Mart:

Limousin bullock weighing 316kg sold for €1,410;
Two Salers-cross bullocks weighing 435kg sold for €1,600;
Charolais bullock weighing 374kg sold for €1,450;
Limousin bullock weighing 762kg sold for €2,940;
Simmental bullock weighing 394kg sold for €1,550;
Belgian Blue bullock weighing 482kg sold for €1,890.

In the calf sale at Carnew Mart on Friday, February 7, there were over 150 calves on offer with continental bull calves selling from €350-560/head while continental heifers sold for €320-480/head.

Hereford and Angus bull calves sold from €250-430 while Hereford and Angus heifers sold between €260-310/head.

Lighter shipping type Friesian bulls sold from €80 up to €170 for the heavier-type bulls. Farmer-type Friesians sold from €190-280.

There were 187 head of cows on offer with fleshed Friesian cows selling from €2.10-2.40/kg while store Friesians sold from €1.90-2.20/kg. Continental beef cows sold to a top of €3,160 for an 840kg Limousin-cross cow.

Carnaross Mart in Co. Meath hosted its weanling sale on Tuesday, February 11, with 900 weanlings on offer and as high as €5.16/kg paid for weanling bulls and €5.62/kg paid for weanling heifers.

Carnaross Mart's Padraig McElroy said, "In the weanling bull sale, one of the top prices per kilo went to a 440kg Simmental-cross bull that made €2,270, or €5.16/kg, while in the weanling heifer sale, a 400kg Belgian Blue heifer made €2,250, or €5.62/kg."