There were 500 calves and 600 adult cattle on offer in Macroom Mart on Saturday last and trade was brisk.
There was a very solid cull cow trade, with fleshed or heavy cows making from €1.25/kg to €1.50/kg, which was up slightly on previous weeks.
This February 2018-born Friesian bullock weighed 435kg and sold for €660 (€1.52/kg).
Plainer-quality cows sold from €1.00/kg to €1.20/kg.
The light 2018-born store was a very popular sell with farmer buyers and they kept a solid floor under these, with outliers making close to €2.20/kg for the traditional beef crosses.
This pair of Limousin bullocks, born August 2017 and weighing 590kg, sold for €1,330 (€2.25/kg).
Forward stores were solid sellers with most making from €1.95/kg to €2.30/kg with breed and weight the main price determinants.
Continental bullocks over 500kg sold to the higher prices of €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg.
This group of April 2018-born Hereford-cross bullocks had an average weight of 383kg and sold for €825 each (€2.15/kg).
Lighter stores from 400kg to 500kg were a firm trade, as a result of strong farmer demand, and these sold from €2.00 to €2.20/kg for continentals.
Calves
It was a very black and white trade, with Friesian bulls making from €70 to €130.
The number of Friesians is now well back on peak throughput about two months ago.
This Belgian Blue bullock, born March 2017 and weighing 620kg, sold for €1,290 (€2.08/kg).
The supply of Angus and Hereford calves have dropped back also, but the trade for these is still holding quite firm.
Angus and Hereford bull prices ranged from €120 to €300 and heifers from €90 to €280.
This Angus heifer calf born 11 April sold for €130.
Mart manager John O’Mahony said: “Store cattle have been a good trade all spring, despite the fact factory prices weren’t great.
“We’re after having a very busy spring, with a good few sales of over 1,000 cattle.
This Friesian bull calf born 17 March sold for €120.
“The lighter stores around 300kg seemed to come out earlier this year and that’s probably down to the good winter we had.”
Price-wise, John felt quality is always paying.
This Hereford heifer calf born 17 April sold for €235.
He said: “You can see the traditional beef crosses are going for a little over or below the €2/kg mark and Friesians are mainly selling for between €1.50/kg to €1.70/kg.
“Continentals then are up over €2.20/kg. But I would be concerned on the suckler sector. It seems to be in disarray.”
Commission rates for adult cattle are €1.5% to the seller with an entry fee of €2.50 and a minimum charge of €9.50/head and €9 to the buyer.
This Angus bull calf born 19 April sold for €215.
This March 2018-born Angus-cross bullock weighed 415kg and sold for €835 (€2.01/kg).
This 2015-born Friesian cull cow weighed 600kg and sold for €780 (€1.30/kg).
This 2016 born Charolais-cross cow weighing 595kg sold for €865 (€1.45/kg).
There were 500 calves and 600 adult cattle on offer in Macroom Mart on Saturday last and trade was brisk.
There was a very solid cull cow trade, with fleshed or heavy cows making from €1.25/kg to €1.50/kg, which was up slightly on previous weeks.
This February 2018-born Friesian bullock weighed 435kg and sold for €660 (€1.52/kg).
Plainer-quality cows sold from €1.00/kg to €1.20/kg.
The light 2018-born store was a very popular sell with farmer buyers and they kept a solid floor under these, with outliers making close to €2.20/kg for the traditional beef crosses.
This pair of Limousin bullocks, born August 2017 and weighing 590kg, sold for €1,330 (€2.25/kg).
Forward stores were solid sellers with most making from €1.95/kg to €2.30/kg with breed and weight the main price determinants.
Continental bullocks over 500kg sold to the higher prices of €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg.
This group of April 2018-born Hereford-cross bullocks had an average weight of 383kg and sold for €825 each (€2.15/kg).
Lighter stores from 400kg to 500kg were a firm trade, as a result of strong farmer demand, and these sold from €2.00 to €2.20/kg for continentals.
Calves
It was a very black and white trade, with Friesian bulls making from €70 to €130.
The number of Friesians is now well back on peak throughput about two months ago.
This Belgian Blue bullock, born March 2017 and weighing 620kg, sold for €1,290 (€2.08/kg).
The supply of Angus and Hereford calves have dropped back also, but the trade for these is still holding quite firm.
Angus and Hereford bull prices ranged from €120 to €300 and heifers from €90 to €280.
This Angus heifer calf born 11 April sold for €130.
Mart manager John O’Mahony said: “Store cattle have been a good trade all spring, despite the fact factory prices weren’t great.
“We’re after having a very busy spring, with a good few sales of over 1,000 cattle.
This Friesian bull calf born 17 March sold for €120.
“The lighter stores around 300kg seemed to come out earlier this year and that’s probably down to the good winter we had.”
Price-wise, John felt quality is always paying.
This Hereford heifer calf born 17 April sold for €235.
He said: “You can see the traditional beef crosses are going for a little over or below the €2/kg mark and Friesians are mainly selling for between €1.50/kg to €1.70/kg.
“Continentals then are up over €2.20/kg. But I would be concerned on the suckler sector. It seems to be in disarray.”
Commission rates for adult cattle are €1.5% to the seller with an entry fee of €2.50 and a minimum charge of €9.50/head and €9 to the buyer.
This Angus bull calf born 19 April sold for €215.
This March 2018-born Angus-cross bullock weighed 415kg and sold for €835 (€2.01/kg).
This 2015-born Friesian cull cow weighed 600kg and sold for €780 (€1.30/kg).
This 2016 born Charolais-cross cow weighing 595kg sold for €865 (€1.45/kg).
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