Castlerea Mart held its weekly sale of bullocks, heifers, cows, calves, runners and weanlings on Thursday, with strong demand for all types of cattle.

Despite many farmers being busy working, the turnout of cattle was good, with over 300 for sale.

Clearance rates were high, with strong demand for good-quality stock.

There were 12 pens of weanling bulls of offer, with a large proportion of these being top-quality U and E grading continental calves.

There was high competition among export buyers for these weanlings, which really helped to drive on the prices.

Some of these weanling bulls crossed €6/kg, with a May 2024-born Limousin bull weighing 460kg selling for €3,020 (€6.56/kg).

A June 2024-born Belgian Blue-cross weanling bull weighing 450kg sold for €2,880 (€6.40/kg). Lighter bulls also sold well, with a pair of seven-month-old Charolais-cross bulls weighing 358kg each selling for €2,170 (€6.07/kg) apiece.

Bullocks

There was five pens of bullocks on offer, with many of these being Aberdeen Angus and Hereford crosses.

These sold well, with the majority making over €3.80/kg. An April 2023-born Aberdeen Angus-cross bullock weighing 505kg sold for €2,080 (€4.12/kg). An April 2023-born Friesian bullock weighing 444kg sold for €1,600 (€3.60/kg).

There was only two pens of weanling heifers on offer. Top price went to a stylish November 2024-born Belgian Blue heifer out of a Limousin dam that weighed 305kg and sold for €2,200 (€7.21/kg).

A June 2024-born Charolais-cross heifer weighing 315kg sold for €1,990 (€6.32/kg).

There were 18 dry cows for sale, which were in high demand among factory agents. Top-quality continental cows with a good covering of flesh all made over €4/kg.

The top price in the cull cows went to a February 2017-born Limousin-cross that weighed 865kg and sold for €3,610 (€4.17/kg).

A January 2019-born Simmental-cross cow weighing 775kg sold for €3,190 (€4.12/kg).

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal after the sale, mart manager Brendan Egan said: “Turnout of cattle is good considering a lot of local farmers are busy at silage.”

He also described how exports to continental Europe are really helping to drive on the price of top-quality weanlings.

In pictures

This January 2025-born Belgian Blue-cross weanling bull weighed 445kg and sold for €2,700 (€6.07/kg).

This May 2024-born Limousin-cross bull weighed 300kg and sold for €1,800 (€6/kg).

This April 2024-born Belgian Blue-cross bull weighed 490kg and sold for €2,700 (€5.51/kg).

This November 2024-born Limousin-cross weanling bull weighed 305kg and sold for €1,410 (€4.62/kg).

This July 2023-born Charolais-cross bull weighed 755kg and sold for €2,970 (€3.93/kg).

This June 2024-born Belgian Blue bull weighed 500kg and sold for €3,000 (€6/kg).

This June 2024-born Belgian Blue-cross bull weighed 450kg and sold €2,880 (€6.40/kg).

This August 2024-born Belgian Blue-cross bull weighed 380kg and sold for €2,100 (€5.53/kg).

This January 2025-born Charolais-cross weanling bull weighed 385kg and sold for €2,100 (€5.45/kg).

This August 2022-born Hereford-cross bullock weighed 525kg and sold for €2,020 (€3.85/kg).

This October 2024-born Limousin-cross bull weighed 345kg and sold for €2,060 (€5.97/kg).