A combination of fodder difficulties, higher supplies of cull cows and weaker beef prices have placed a lot of price pressure on cull cows in recent weeks.
However, in some areas, mart managers are reporting steady demand for culls and in some instances demand is outstripping supplies.
While some farmers have had to offload cows as a result of weather, those who have some grass and fodder are choosing to ride the storm in the hope of getting better prices in the coming weeks when there is less pressure on the trade.
Where dairy culls are coming to the fore in the south, prices of better-quality cows straight from the parlour are ranging from €1.00/kg to €1.20/kg, depending on the level of flesh, while lesser-quality types and cross-bred cows are selling mainly from €0.80/kg, or slightly under it, to €1.00/kg.
Heavier continentals are weathering the storm the best, but lesser-quality feeding cows are still a variable trade. At the top of the market, there are some cow heifers selling to €2.00/kg, but those over this are rare. The majority of fleshed continental cows continue to sell from €1.80/kg to €1.95/kg.
Forward continental feeding cows are selling mainly from €1.60/kg to €1.75/kg, which is well back on recent weeks. Lesser-quality thin and old continental cows are selling from as low as €1.20/kg to €1.40/kg. Fleshed Friesian cows are selling mainly from €1.60/kg to €1.70/kg. Where continental cows and calves are on offer, demand is strong and prices are steady, which is in contrast with the cull cow trade.
A combination of fodder difficulties, higher supplies of cull cows and weaker beef prices have placed a lot of price pressure on cull cows in recent weeks.
However, in some areas, mart managers are reporting steady demand for culls and in some instances demand is outstripping supplies.
While some farmers have had to offload cows as a result of weather, those who have some grass and fodder are choosing to ride the storm in the hope of getting better prices in the coming weeks when there is less pressure on the trade.
Where dairy culls are coming to the fore in the south, prices of better-quality cows straight from the parlour are ranging from €1.00/kg to €1.20/kg, depending on the level of flesh, while lesser-quality types and cross-bred cows are selling mainly from €0.80/kg, or slightly under it, to €1.00/kg.
Heavier continentals are weathering the storm the best, but lesser-quality feeding cows are still a variable trade. At the top of the market, there are some cow heifers selling to €2.00/kg, but those over this are rare. The majority of fleshed continental cows continue to sell from €1.80/kg to €1.95/kg.
Forward continental feeding cows are selling mainly from €1.60/kg to €1.75/kg, which is well back on recent weeks. Lesser-quality thin and old continental cows are selling from as low as €1.20/kg to €1.40/kg. Fleshed Friesian cows are selling mainly from €1.60/kg to €1.70/kg. Where continental cows and calves are on offer, demand is strong and prices are steady, which is in contrast with the cull cow trade.
SHARING OPTIONS