Cootehill Livestock Mart in Co. Cavan hosted its weekly general cattle sale on Friday evening (February 20).

Speaking to Agriland after the sale, mart manager Stephen Drury said: "We had a jam-packed yard of exceptional cattle with a tremendous trade from start to finish.

He noted there was production sale sale on the night of 15 Simmental heifers and a separate 20-cow suckler herd clearance sale.

In the heifer sale, Drury said that Simmental heifers sold for up to €3,700 while Belgian Blue heifers reached €3,000.

The 380-450kg continental heifers with good confirmation generally made from €2,200-€2,850/head.

The forward-type and feeding heifers weighing from 500-560kg mostly sold from €1,900-€2,400.

"Quality breeding was handsomely rewarded, with exceptional bidding both ringside and online," Drury said.

"Overall, it was a super trade for forward and breeding heifers with top continentals commanding premium prices."

Bullocks

In the bullocks, the mart manager said that the forward types met "a steady and competitive trade".

He said the 450–525kg bullocks sold from €1,560–€1,980 and that select types of continental lots sold for in excess of €3.70/kg.

"A standout group of Simmental bullocks sold to very strong demand and there was good feeding types particularly well sought after," the mart manager said.

Calves

Drury added that there was excellent demand seen in the calf ring with "huge demand for continentals" and calf prices reaching €750.

He said the strong 60-70kg Hereford calves were regularly making from €590-€650 with the Angus calves were mostly trading from €350-€520.

The Friesian bull calves were mostly selling from €200-€300, with calf buyers "particularly keen for strength and quality".

Cows

There was also a "powerful trade" seen for the quality suckler cows in the sale, with up to €4,360 paid on the night for a five-year-old in-calf cow.

Heavy Charolais cows sold from €3,000–€3,620 and the cows weighing from 650–710kg mostly sold from €2,400–3,400 depending on confirmation and flesh with the premium prices being paid for the heavy, well-fleshed continentals.

Guide prices for the dry cows in the sale:

Beef cows up to €2,420;
Strong Friesians to €2,140;
Lighter types from €1,120 upwards.

Drury said that the trade for the beef cows has been "showing a lift" on recent weeks at Cootehill Mart.

Bulls

Up to €2,000 was paid on the night for weanling bulls with the 390–455kg Limousin types trading from €1,720–€1,900 and the 300–340kg Friesian crosses selling from €1,020–€1,260.

"The strong continental bulls were again trading for well over the €4/kg mark," Drury said.

"Overall, it was a tremendous night’s trading at Cootehill Mart with quality cattle and serious buyers in every ring."