A combination of very small sales and weather have resulted in a quick drop in the quality of cattle on offer and a drop-off in demand has resulted in a perfect storm for lower prices at mart sales.
Weather is the main factor affecting average prices on both sides of supply and demand.
In the south, there has been a sharp increase in the number of lesser-quality cattle coming on offer.
Dairy-cross cattle are dominating at many sales and this is having an adverse affect on the average prices paid.
However, this is more than likely a short-term effect, with the majority of sales including continental and better-quality cattle seeing little slippage in prices paid.
The drought has also resulted in a sharp drop in demand due to low grass supplies, which is compounding the issue.
As numbers on offer are low, a wet week has the potential to change market sentiment and improve prices quite quickly.
Steers
With a reduction in the quality of cattle available at many marts, this has had a downward effect on the prices paid for steers. Those over 600kg are still the strongest trade where the quality on offer is good. At the top of the market, prices of €2.25/kg to €2.35/kg are on offer, while average-quality heavy bullocks are making from €1.90/kg to €2.10/kg. There has been an increase in the supply of plainer-quality dairy-bred store bullocks, which are selling from €1.60/kg to €1.70/kg for Friesians and from €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg for Angus.
Heifers
Like bullocks, both demand and quality of the heifers on offer in the last week has been back on the previous week. With grass growth poor, buyers have reduced their activity, while those that are out selling stock in some cases have to offload. The average 550kg heifer sold for €1,100 to €1,200/head. Lighter stores from 400kg to 500kg are selling mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg and up to €2.60/kg in some cases. Where plain light stores are on offer, prices of €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg are common.
Weanlings
Increased numbers of dairy-cross and plainer-quality weanlings on offer has had a negative effect on prices, but this may only be shortlived. The average 350kg bull is making €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg in stronger suckler areas, while average price is running at €2.26/kg across the country. Light bulls under 300kg are only available in very low numbers and are selling mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg and up to €3.10/kg at the top of the market. Heifer prices are running at about 10c/kg less than the equivalent bull.
Read more
Northern view: price pressure mounts as cattle supplies increase
Camera at the mart: weather has an effect on live trade in Nenagh
Camer at the mart: numbers down but prices steady at Dungannon
Well-fleshed lambs and ewes in demand but store lambs easier
Steady trade for lambs in Loughrea Mart
A combination of very small sales and weather have resulted in a quick drop in the quality of cattle on offer and a drop-off in demand has resulted in a perfect storm for lower prices at mart sales.
Weather is the main factor affecting average prices on both sides of supply and demand.
In the south, there has been a sharp increase in the number of lesser-quality cattle coming on offer.
Dairy-cross cattle are dominating at many sales and this is having an adverse affect on the average prices paid.
However, this is more than likely a short-term effect, with the majority of sales including continental and better-quality cattle seeing little slippage in prices paid.
The drought has also resulted in a sharp drop in demand due to low grass supplies, which is compounding the issue.
As numbers on offer are low, a wet week has the potential to change market sentiment and improve prices quite quickly.
Steers
With a reduction in the quality of cattle available at many marts, this has had a downward effect on the prices paid for steers. Those over 600kg are still the strongest trade where the quality on offer is good. At the top of the market, prices of €2.25/kg to €2.35/kg are on offer, while average-quality heavy bullocks are making from €1.90/kg to €2.10/kg. There has been an increase in the supply of plainer-quality dairy-bred store bullocks, which are selling from €1.60/kg to €1.70/kg for Friesians and from €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg for Angus.
Heifers
Like bullocks, both demand and quality of the heifers on offer in the last week has been back on the previous week. With grass growth poor, buyers have reduced their activity, while those that are out selling stock in some cases have to offload. The average 550kg heifer sold for €1,100 to €1,200/head. Lighter stores from 400kg to 500kg are selling mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg and up to €2.60/kg in some cases. Where plain light stores are on offer, prices of €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg are common.
Weanlings
Increased numbers of dairy-cross and plainer-quality weanlings on offer has had a negative effect on prices, but this may only be shortlived. The average 350kg bull is making €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg in stronger suckler areas, while average price is running at €2.26/kg across the country. Light bulls under 300kg are only available in very low numbers and are selling mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg and up to €3.10/kg at the top of the market. Heifer prices are running at about 10c/kg less than the equivalent bull.
Read more
Northern view: price pressure mounts as cattle supplies increase
Camera at the mart: weather has an effect on live trade in Nenagh
Camer at the mart: numbers down but prices steady at Dungannon
Well-fleshed lambs and ewes in demand but store lambs easier
Steady trade for lambs in Loughrea Mart
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: