Kilkenny Mart hosted its weekly general cattle sale on Thursday, May 21, with a lower number of cattle on offer totalling 560 head.

Commenting on the trade, auctioneer George Chandler said that the light store bullocks and heifers meet "a good solid trade as did the smart continentals with the bulk of these selling from €4.20-€5.40/kg".

Bullocks in the 400-500kg weight range averaged €3.85/kg or €1,695/head.

Two Friesian bullocks weighing 480kg sold for €1,600/head or €3.33/kg.

Another four Hereford bullocks weighing 420kg sold for €1,530/head or €3.64/kg.

Bullocks under 400kg averaged €3.95/kg or €1,340/head. Three Charolais bullocks weighing 355kg sold for €1,900/head or €5.35/kg.

Five Angus bullocks weighing 325kg sold for €1,430/head or €4.40/kg.

Beef trade

"On the negative side, beef bullocks and heifers meet a difficult trade with customers in this sector showing a lot of caution, which is no surprise with factory quotes reducing on a weekly basis by 10c/kg a time," Chandler said.

Beef heifers averaged €3.50/kg in the sale or €2,200/head. Bullocks over 600kg averaged €2,215/head.

Five Friesian bullocks weighing 650kg sold for €2,060/head or €3.17/kg.

A 750kg Angus bullock sold for €3.20/kg or €2,400/head and another three Hereford bullocks weighing 635kg sold for €2,100/head or €3.31/kg.

Two Charolais heifers weighing 600kg sold for €2,360/head or €3.93/kg.

Another five Angus heifers weighing 530kg sold for €1,800/head or €3.40/kg.

The auctioneer said: "The question being asked is: 'Are factories finding it difficult to sell beef or is it a situation where factories are trying to recoup monies they had to pay for the product last year?'."

Chandler also noted the level of beef imports which he said is "a negative for the hard-pressed beef producer".

Cull cows in the sale ranged in price from €1.80-€3.35/kg for Friesians and the continental cull cows ranged in price from €3.20-€4.00/kg.

Light store heifers averaged €3.70/kg or €1,276/head. Three Angus heifers weighing 315kg sold for €1,130/head or €3.59/kg.

Two Limousin heifers weighing 350kg sold for €4/kg or €1,400/head.