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Unlike forward store cattle, weanlings were more resilient in terms of price drops in 2016. MartWatch analysis of weanling price trends over the course of 2016 shows that the average 350kg weanling bull saw prices drop by 13c/kg or €56/head in 2016 when compared with 2015.
If we look at light weanling bulls from 200kg to 300kg, we can see from Table 2 that the average price paid in 2016 was 16c/kg or €40/head less than the average prices paid in 2015.
In terms of weanling heifers, light heifers from 200kg to 300kg saw average prices drop by 21c/kg in 2016, a drop of €52.50/head on a 250kg heifer. Heavier heifers from 300kg to 400kg saw prices drop by 16c/kg or €56/head for the average 350kg heifer.
Light weanlings buck the trend
MartWatch figures have shown that the price drops experienced on a per-head basis for store cattle have not been as severe in 2016 for weanlings.
In the weanling category, it is clear that light weanlings from 200kg to 300kg have bucked the trend and shown the lowest price decreases of any other cattle type in 2016.
This has occurred as farmers sourcing cattle in the spring and autumn have been quite active for lighter weanlings, sourcing numbers at lower total prices than heavier weanlings.
In addition, the autumn saw a sharp increase in the number of light weanlings purchased for export.
The onset of live shipping to Turkey saw farmers and exporters compete for light bulls between 200kg and 300kg in the late autumn and winter, which helped keep a firm floor under prices.
Lesser-quality weanlings drop by €95/head
With weanling prices under pressure in 2016, one evident trend has been a distinct focus on sourcing better-quality cattle.
A direct result of this was increased price pressure on plainer-quality weanlings. The average price paid for the bottom third of weanling bulls from 200kg to 300kg dropped from €2.18/kg in 2015 to €1.89/kg in 2016, a fall of 29c/kg or €72.50/head.
The bottom third of bulls in quality terms from 300kg to 400kg saw average prices fall by 24c/kg in 2016, a drop of €84/head for a 350kg bull.
Similarly, lesser-quality heifers were met with sharp price decreases in 2016.
In the case of lesser-quality 200kg to 300kg weanling heifers, prices dropped by 35c/kg or €87.50/head in 2016. Lesser-quality heavier heifers from 300kg to 400kg saw prices fall by 27c/kg or a massive €94.50/head on the previous year.
Larger numbers of Angus and Hereford calves born to the dairy herd are having an affect on the average price paid for lesser-quality animals.
As more and more lesser-quality dairy-bred cattle come to the fore, they are adding to the downward pressure on plainer-quality weanling prices.
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