Vibrant, steady sales of cattle and sheep at Kilkenny Mart

As the song says, it’s getting to look a lot like Christmas, and driving to work this morning frost had to be removed from the car windscreen before driving off.

For many young and old it’s a special time of year but for more it is a very sad period as the people they shared Christmas with last year are no longer with us. This is the reason that there are so many contrasting ideas regarding the festive season.

On the mart front things have changed some what in the past few weeks.
Thursday has proved a busy day here in Kilkenny and the fact that the cull cows sell before the heifers means that it was a late start, so we have decided to move the cull cow sale to a Tuesday in conjunction with our weanling sale.

Last week we attracted over 200 cows and the fact that the sale attracted a few new buyers was a bonus.
Trade proved successful with a 100% clearance and the fact that there was more room to operate everyone appeared to be happy with the outcome.

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Our weanling numbers have been small this year due mainly to the fact that many established suckler farmers have changed to dairy which means the real quality types are not been produced in this part of the country.

Cattle Sale
Last Thursday’s cattle sale attracted a magnificent yard of cattle with trade vibrant all ‘round. The trade was helped by the presents of North of Ireland buyers plus anxious factory agents and feed lot purchasers.

Beef type bullocks ranged from €1450 to €2480 per head, forward store bullocks €1100 to €1820 per head with lighter type store bullocks €650 to €1550 per head.

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Heifers also meet a good solid trade with Beef types from €1250 to €1750 and stores €680 to €1410 per head.
Remember bullocks and heifers should be entered before 3.30pm on the previous Wednesday with Cull cow entries for Tuesday taken up to 3.30pm on the previous Monday. The Mart contact number is 056 7721407.

Sheep Sale
Our Monday sheep sale numbers have remained steady with a good trade for well fleshed lambs.
Butcher types ranged from €148 to €169 per head factory types €130 to €147 with store lambs €78 to €115 per head.

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Christmas Hamper Appeal
This week we start our Christmas Hamper Appeal on behalf of the Kilkenny Lions Club.
The first items being offered will be on this week’s Farm Show on KCLR at 7pm. Items for auction appear in this week’s issue of the Kilkenny People (see pages 71- 74). A big thank you to the Kilkenny People newspaper and KCLR without whose help we would not be able to hold this event, which raises thousands for Vincent De Paul and many local charities. So be brave and bid well to secure an item you will require, especially in the farming community.
Until next time good buying, good selling and good luck.