There were 500 cattle on offer at Kilkenny Mart on Thursday, May 23, with as high as €4.88/kg paid for heavy bullocks at the sale.

Commenting on the trade, auctioneer George Chandler noted that there were a smaller number of cattle on offer this week but said: "Trade remains very strong, with more animals than ever exceeding €3,000/head.

The Kilkenny Mart auctioneer said that this trend indicates that "more beef-type cattle are being offered for sale in the marts".

The highest price in the bullock ring was €3,780, which was paid on two occasions in the sale.

An 840kg Simmental bullock fetched the price as well as a pair of Charolais bullocks averaging 775kg each. In the heifer ring, a 715kg Charolais heifer made the top price of €3,500.

Bullocks over 600kg averaged €4.10/kg, with bullocks from 500-600kg averaging €4.05/kg.

In the lighter weight categories, bullocks from 400-500kg averaged €4.03/kg and bullocks below 400kg averaged €4.23/kg.

Sample prices included three Angus bullocks with an average weight of 365kg that sold for €1,610/head or €4.41/kg.

Beef heifers at the Kilkenny Mart sale averaged €4.10/kg in the sale, with forward-store heifers averaging €4.31/kg and light store heifers averaging €4.15/kg.

Sample heifer prices included two Limousin heifers with an average weight of 690kg that sold for €4.67/kg or €3,220/head.

Another entry of five Charolais heifers with an average weight of 530kg sold for €4.47/kg or €2,370/head.

Three Hereford heifers with an average weight of 370kg sold for €4.05/kg or €1,500/head, while two Friesian heifers averaging 440kg sold for €3.84/kg or €1,590/head.

There were 120 cows on offer in the sale and the lower-grading cull cows sold from €0.80c/kg to €2.40/kg, with better-type Friesians making from €2.70-€3.60/kg.

Continental-bred cull cows at the sale at Kilkenny Mart made from €2.80-€4.59/kg, with a top price in the cull cow ring of €4,020.