There were over 1,200 cattle on offer at Carnew Mart in Co. Wicklow for its annual show and sale of bulls and bullocks on Saturday, January 31.

Speaking to Agriland after the sale, David Quinn of Carnew Mart said the heavy beef cattle generally sold from €4/kg up as high as €5.10/kg with quality lots generally making from €4.40-€5.00/kg.

Quinn told Agriland that approximately 50% of the lighter bulls in the sale were bought by exporters.

170 weanling bulls and approximately 50 bullocks, totalling approximately 220 cattle, were bought by exporters on the day.

Bullock sale

Quinn said that there was a range of customers active in the bullock sale including local factories, wholesalers, and customers from Northern Ireland who were buying the beef cattle on offer in the sale.

The current bluetongue restrictions means that movements of livestock to Northern Ireland and Britain are not allowed, other than directly to slaughter.

The top price on the day went to the champion bullock - a 978kg Limousin-cross owned by Patsy Fortune. This bullock sold for €4,750 or €4.86/kg and was purchased by Dawn Meats.

The same farmer also sold a 942kg Limousin bullock for €4,140 or €4.39/kg.

Best non-continental factory type bullocks:

First: Two 685kg Angus bullocks sold for €2,800 or €4.09/kg, owned by Aaron Mooney;
Second: Two 650kg Angus bullocks sold for €2,590 or €3.98/kg, owned by Liz Doran;
Third: Three 610kg bullocks sold for €2,420 or €3.96/kg, owned by James Graham.

Over 20 cattle sold for over €4,000 on the day and 300 cattle sold for between €3,000-€4,000 in the sale.

In the store bullock sale, there was strong farmer and exporter demand also with quality lots making from €4.60-€5.50/kg.

Best continental store bullock:

First: 660kg Belgian Blue bullock sold for €3,150 or €4.77/kg, owned by Noel Armstrong;
Second: 614kg Limousin bullock sold for €2,760 or €4.50/kg, owned by Liam Byrne;
Third: 710kg Parthenaise bullock sold for €3,360 or €4.73/kg, sold by Ann Hardy.

The Hereford and Angus types were making from €3.80-€4.30/kg.

Weanling bull show and sale at Carnew Mart

There were 460 weanling bulls on offer in the sale.

Quinn noted that there had been some farmer concern in advance of the sale relating to the bluetongue situation and whether the exporters would be active or not.

"We had six exporters buying and probably 50% of the lighter bulls were bought for export," he said.

Weanling bull class winners:

First: 464kg Belgian Blue bull sold for €2,900 or €6.25/kg, owned by Shay Hayden;
Second: 480kg Limousin bull sold for €2,440 or €5.08/kg, owned by Frank Bailey;
Third: 476kg Belgian Blue bull sold for €2,600 or €5.46/kg, owned by Frank Bailey.

According to Quinn: "'R' grade bulls were making from €4.70-€5.60/kg.

"The 'U' grading bulls were all selling for north of €6/kg and a top price of €8.06/kg for a 370kg bull that sold for €3,000."

Carnew Mart is set to host its show and sale of dry cows on Friday, February 6, and its show and sale of heifers on Saturday, February 7.