Keen factory demand and tighter supplies remain the prominent features of the trade in many areas.
Supplies are tighter in the northern half of the country in particular, with less pressure on supplies in the south as cattle housed later start to come on stream.
Sellers with large numbers are in the driving seat in negotiations, with more farmers having success pushing prices back up to a base of €3.80/kg for steers and €3.90/kg for heifers. There are small numbers of cattle trading 5c/kg above this at the top of the market. Sellers with lower negotiating power are being offered quotes 5c/kg lower.
Sellers with what factories would have previously deemed out-of-spec stock are also having more joy, with carcase weight limits being waived in cases where only a percentage of animals are overweight, while there is more leniency in price deductions imposed for overage stock.
Bulls
Bulls, at peak throughout of between 5,000 and 6,000 head, remain a vital component of the trade. R grading bulls are selling in general at €3.75/kg to €3.85/kg, with U grading bulls to €3.90/kg. Carcase weights are mainly being imposed at 420kg to 430kg, but there are allowances where only a small number of bulls are rising to 450kg. Above this, some plants are imposing a 5c/kg to 10c/kg deduction.
Stock bulls are a sluggish trade, with some plants very reluctant to handle heavy bulls and offering as low as €2.30/kg. Others are paying €2.50/kg, with the top prices reported at €2.70/kg to €2.80kg. Deals are easier negotiated where other cattle are also moving and act as a bargaining tool in negotiations. Bulls less than 16 months are selling from a base of €3.75/kg to €3.85/kg. This excludes the 12c/kg QA bonus.
Firm mart trade
Sellers having difficulty securing a positive price for cows should note agents are very active and using sales to supplement throughout. P+3 grading cows are trading from €2.95/kg to €3.10/kg, with O grades anywhere from €3.00kg to €3.25/kg.
R grades are trading from €3.25/kg to €3.40/kg, with U grades to €3.50/kg.
Read more
Cattle prices: plenty of life in bullock trade at Bandon
Keen factory demand and tighter supplies remain the prominent features of the trade in many areas.
Supplies are tighter in the northern half of the country in particular, with less pressure on supplies in the south as cattle housed later start to come on stream.
Sellers with large numbers are in the driving seat in negotiations, with more farmers having success pushing prices back up to a base of €3.80/kg for steers and €3.90/kg for heifers. There are small numbers of cattle trading 5c/kg above this at the top of the market. Sellers with lower negotiating power are being offered quotes 5c/kg lower.
Sellers with what factories would have previously deemed out-of-spec stock are also having more joy, with carcase weight limits being waived in cases where only a percentage of animals are overweight, while there is more leniency in price deductions imposed for overage stock.
Bulls
Bulls, at peak throughout of between 5,000 and 6,000 head, remain a vital component of the trade. R grading bulls are selling in general at €3.75/kg to €3.85/kg, with U grading bulls to €3.90/kg. Carcase weights are mainly being imposed at 420kg to 430kg, but there are allowances where only a small number of bulls are rising to 450kg. Above this, some plants are imposing a 5c/kg to 10c/kg deduction.
Stock bulls are a sluggish trade, with some plants very reluctant to handle heavy bulls and offering as low as €2.30/kg. Others are paying €2.50/kg, with the top prices reported at €2.70/kg to €2.80kg. Deals are easier negotiated where other cattle are also moving and act as a bargaining tool in negotiations. Bulls less than 16 months are selling from a base of €3.75/kg to €3.85/kg. This excludes the 12c/kg QA bonus.
Firm mart trade
Sellers having difficulty securing a positive price for cows should note agents are very active and using sales to supplement throughout. P+3 grading cows are trading from €2.95/kg to €3.10/kg, with O grades anywhere from €3.00kg to €3.25/kg.
R grades are trading from €3.25/kg to €3.40/kg, with U grades to €3.50/kg.
Read more
Cattle prices: plenty of life in bullock trade at Bandon
SHARING OPTIONS