The Irish cattle trade is looking very promising overall heading into spring 2026, according to Gortatlea mart manager Maurice Brosnan.

Speaking to Agriland after the general cattle sale at the Co. Kerry-based mart last Friday (January 16) mart manager, Maurice Brosnan, said trade is very firm and that cow prices are "well up" since before Christmas.

There were approximately 550 cull cows, 350 bullocks, 250 heifers as well as a few entries of bulls on offer at the sale.

He said that the general run of Friesian cows with flesh is €3/kg+, the poor quality cows are down to €2.00/kg and the store Friesian cows were making from €2.50-2.80/kg.

Cows

Continental cows were making up to €4/kg for the tops and the general run was €3.30-3.80/kg for these.

Heavy continental cows were making over €3,500 in some cases in the Friday sale.

The mart manager noted that the types of cattle suitable for export jobs have also seen a "big lift in prices".

"The biggest improvement has been in store cattle suitable for shipping."

He said that Angus bullocks from 400-550kg are making "well over €4/kg" and noted a bundle of 12 Angus bullocks together weighing 540kg that made €2,290.

Friesian bullocks are making anything from €3.50-3.80/kg while there is €3.80-4.00/kg being paid for the good Angus cattle with feedlot customers active for the Angus heifers and bullocks over 500kg.

Heifer prices are generally trending 5-10c/kg less than the store bullocks with "more take for the bullocks" in general.

Weanling sale at Gortatlea

The weanling and calf sale took place last Wednesday (January 14) at the Co. Kerry mart.

Brosnan said: "The [suckler-bred] calves suitable for shipping are making anything from €6-7/kg. The best was two Limousin bull calves weighing 345kg making €2,400 or €6.96/kg.

There were approximately 100 suck calves in the sale and that "any nice Angus bull calf 5-6 weeks old is making €600-700 and the Friesian bull calves are making from €250-300".

"The calf trade looks very promising and some of the calf exporters are active already but most will start buying from February 1," he added.

Gortatlea Mart is set to host a number of special sales at the end of January and into early February.

The mart will host a special sale of cows on Thursday, January 29 with the general cattle sale on Friday, January 30.

The mart will also host a special continental weanling bull sale in the first week of February.

"Overall, the trade is looking very promising," Brosnan added.