The dairy trade across the country seems to be holding strong, with several dairy sales taking place this week, including clearance sales.

Following the confirmation of bluetongue in Co. Wexford, and the ever looming Mercosur deal on the table, worries were kicking in for dairy farmers that prices may plummet.

However, marts still seem to be going relatively strong while factory prices for cull cows remain a lot more positive than in previous years.

Dairy farmers will be relying on prices to stay like this throughout the spring to keep them afloat while milk prices continue to bottom out.

Listowel Mart

Listowel Mart saw 70 British Friesian cows as well as 17 in-calf heifers make their way through its ring on Wednesday (January 28).

A top price of €2,680 was achieved on the day for a 23-month-old in-calf heifer, weighing in at 530kg, which means the animal made just over €5/kg.

There was a low of €1,020 on the day for a 580kg, six-year-old Friesian, equating to a low of €1.76/kg.

However, she seemed to be an outlier, as the average price on the day worked out at €2,020 or an average of €3.30/kg.

There was an average weight of 613kg in the animals, ranging from 486kg to 790kg.

Castleisland mart

Staying in Co. Kerry, Castleisland Co-op Livestock Mart also held a dairy sale during the week with a fine selection of in-calf Friesian heifers making their way through the ring.

The two-year-old heifers averaged €1,571 on the day, with a top price of €2,060 reached for two heifers, and a low of €900 for a light heifer weighing just 370kg.

In general, prices were back here ever so slightly at the overall sale, with a top bid of €2,200 for a three- year-old cow weighing in at 710kg.

Meanwhile, the lowest bid on the day went to a three-and-a-half year old cow, going under the hammer for €485. However she only weighed 372kg, was not in calf, and was described by the auctioneer as a 'bit stiff'.

There was a selection of older Friesian cows on the day, with a 12-year-old weighing 652kg making her way through the ring and selling for €1,880.

Carnaross

Carnaross Mart also held an open dairy sale during the week, with an array of freshly calved heifers and in-calf heifers going under the hammer.

A top price of €2,400 was achieved for a freshly calved second calver Friesian cross with an Economic Breeding Index (EBI) of €113.

There was a low price of €860 paid in the mart for a three-year-old Friesian heifer.

The day closed out with a selection of yearlings ranging between 195kg and 235kg, and selling for between €540 and €860.