This March 2025-born Charolais-cross heifer calf weighing 188kg sold for €1,010.

Kilkenny Mart held its weekly calf and cull cow sale on Tuesday 24 June.

There was a good selection of calves and runners on offer, with 70 cull cows also for sale.

Calves and runners

Calves were a great trade in Tuesday’s sale, with a lot of farmers turning their focus to buying calves due to the exceptional trade for store cattle.

There were six or seven export buyers buying calves, helping to push on the trade.

Friesian bull runners made between €150 and €580/head. Friesian bull dropped calves were also a strong trade, with a three-week-old Friesian bull calf weighing 54kg selling for €155.

There was a good selection of continental runners for sale. Continental bulls sold for between €400 and €910, with continental heifers selling for between €350 and €1,010/head.

The standout lot was a March 2025-born Charolais-cross heifer calf out of a Friesian cowthat weighed 188kg and sold for €1,010.

The demand was also strong for Aberdeen Angus and Hereford runners, with the price of bull calves ranging between €210 and €930 and heifers ranging from €200 to €800.

Dry cows

There were 70 dry cows on offer, with more anxiousness creeping in among factory agents in comparison to previous weeks.

Friesian cull cows made between €1.90/kg and €3.30/kg, with continental-type cows selling for between €3/kg and €4/kg.

An April 2018-born Hereford cull cow weighing 785kg sold for €2,810. Other standout lots included an August 2021-born Aberdeen Angus bull weighing 860kg and selling for €3,140 (€3.65/kg).

Speaking after the sale, auctioneer George Candler commented: “The export trade is positive in terms of pushing on the price of cattle at the moment. However, it will lead to massive shortages of good-quality cattle going forward.”

This three-week-old Friesian bull calf weighing 54kg sold for €155.