Friday’s general cattle sale in Roscrea featured over 150 bullocks and 140 heifers, along with another 40 bulls and 40 cows. Chatting to David White of Central Auctions after the sale, he said that it was a great sale for the time of year.
“Numbers are still circulating, which is pleasing to see given it was an early spring this year,” he said. "There are still plenty of buyers about too. Some lads have filled up but more still seem to have numbers to fill.”
This could be a direct result of increasing volumes of grass around the country once again thanks to the recent falls of rain.
On trade, White said prices were firm. “I suppose there’s a lot of black cattle and Friesians coming on stream but prices have held up for these. There’s great demand for the good continentals though.”
Bullocks
Table 1 gives a full breakdown of bullock prices on the day. Quality continentals led the trade.
Lighter 350-400kg cattle were up over 15c/kg from the previous sale with an overall average just shy of €2/kg. Friesians made just over the €1.60/kg mark while Angus and Hereford crosses ranged from €1.71 up to a top of €735 for a pen of three Hereford-cross bullocks weighing 353kg (€2.08/kg). Continentals started at €2.13/kg up to a top price of €2.22/kg for a pen of six Limousin-crosses averaging 383kg.
This pen of six summer 2018-born Limousin-cross bullocks, averaging 330kg, sold for €1,395/head.
Moving on to the 400-500kg lots, prices were up nearly 20c/kg week-on-week to €2.11/kg. Dairy crosses ranged from between €1.70-1.80/kg while continentals started at €1.92/kg up to a top price of €2.50/kg for a 450kg Charolais-cross bullock.
This October 2017-born Limousin-cross bullock, weighing 565kg, sold for €1,340.
Five-hundred to 600kg cattle were up 6c/kg to an average of €1.93. Friesian lots set the ball rolling here at €1.67/kg up to €1.79/kg, Angus and Herefords kicked in at €1.84/kg up to €2.12, while suckler-bred animals with good confirmation topped out at €2.23/kg.
Those heavier than 600kg were back over 10c for the week to a sale average of €1.92. The poorer quality was very hard hit, dropping over 25c/kg for the week, but quality continentals still attracted customers and rose over 5c/kg to hit over the €2.20/kg mark regularly.
This June 2011-born Belgian Blue bullock, weighing 1,220kg, sold for €2,130.
Heifers
Tables 2 gives a full breakdown of prices from the heifer ring. Lighter lots met with demand but heavier animals were back.
This June 2018-bron Limousin-cross heifer, weighing 440kg sold for €1,030.
Starting with the 350-400kg weight band, €2.25/kg was the average. Angus and Hereford crosses ranged from €1.84-2.10/kg and continentals started at €2.13 up to a top price of €2.69. This was given for a 375kg Charolais heifer which brought her to €1,010.
This May 2018-born Limousin-cross heifer, weighing 390kg, sold for €980.
Four-hundred to 500kg heifers were back over 10c/kg from the last sale to an average of €2.11. Dairy-cross heifers went from €1.85/kg up to €2.05 for the better conformation animal. Continentals went from that price up to a high of €2.51/kg.
This April 2018-born Charolais-cross heifer, weighing 425kg, sold for €1,015.
Dairy crosses over 500kg started at €1.65/kg up to €1.98/kg. Continental crosses ranged from €2.02/kg up to €2.47/kg.
This Limousin-cross heifer, weighing 520kg, sold for €1,150.
Cows
Table 3 gives a breakdown of cull cow prices. Freisian cows made between €875 and €1,030. Suckler cows started at €1,000 but anything with a bit of flesh made over €1,150 up to a top price of €1,490.
Analysis for this report was generated from the MartBids app. MartBids is a collaboration between the Irish Farmers Journal and livestock marts. The app is available for download on iPhone or Android on the App Store or Google Play. With this app, all of the information that is displayed on the mart board is now available on your smartphone, long before the animal enters the sales ring.
Friday’s general cattle sale in Roscrea featured over 150 bullocks and 140 heifers, along with another 40 bulls and 40 cows. Chatting to David White of Central Auctions after the sale, he said that it was a great sale for the time of year.
“Numbers are still circulating, which is pleasing to see given it was an early spring this year,” he said. "There are still plenty of buyers about too. Some lads have filled up but more still seem to have numbers to fill.”
This could be a direct result of increasing volumes of grass around the country once again thanks to the recent falls of rain.
On trade, White said prices were firm. “I suppose there’s a lot of black cattle and Friesians coming on stream but prices have held up for these. There’s great demand for the good continentals though.”
Bullocks
Table 1 gives a full breakdown of bullock prices on the day. Quality continentals led the trade.
Lighter 350-400kg cattle were up over 15c/kg from the previous sale with an overall average just shy of €2/kg. Friesians made just over the €1.60/kg mark while Angus and Hereford crosses ranged from €1.71 up to a top of €735 for a pen of three Hereford-cross bullocks weighing 353kg (€2.08/kg). Continentals started at €2.13/kg up to a top price of €2.22/kg for a pen of six Limousin-crosses averaging 383kg.
This pen of six summer 2018-born Limousin-cross bullocks, averaging 330kg, sold for €1,395/head.
Moving on to the 400-500kg lots, prices were up nearly 20c/kg week-on-week to €2.11/kg. Dairy crosses ranged from between €1.70-1.80/kg while continentals started at €1.92/kg up to a top price of €2.50/kg for a 450kg Charolais-cross bullock.
This October 2017-born Limousin-cross bullock, weighing 565kg, sold for €1,340.
Five-hundred to 600kg cattle were up 6c/kg to an average of €1.93. Friesian lots set the ball rolling here at €1.67/kg up to €1.79/kg, Angus and Herefords kicked in at €1.84/kg up to €2.12, while suckler-bred animals with good confirmation topped out at €2.23/kg.
Those heavier than 600kg were back over 10c for the week to a sale average of €1.92. The poorer quality was very hard hit, dropping over 25c/kg for the week, but quality continentals still attracted customers and rose over 5c/kg to hit over the €2.20/kg mark regularly.
This June 2011-born Belgian Blue bullock, weighing 1,220kg, sold for €2,130.
Heifers
Tables 2 gives a full breakdown of prices from the heifer ring. Lighter lots met with demand but heavier animals were back.
This June 2018-bron Limousin-cross heifer, weighing 440kg sold for €1,030.
Starting with the 350-400kg weight band, €2.25/kg was the average. Angus and Hereford crosses ranged from €1.84-2.10/kg and continentals started at €2.13 up to a top price of €2.69. This was given for a 375kg Charolais heifer which brought her to €1,010.
This May 2018-born Limousin-cross heifer, weighing 390kg, sold for €980.
Four-hundred to 500kg heifers were back over 10c/kg from the last sale to an average of €2.11. Dairy-cross heifers went from €1.85/kg up to €2.05 for the better conformation animal. Continentals went from that price up to a high of €2.51/kg.
This April 2018-born Charolais-cross heifer, weighing 425kg, sold for €1,015.
Dairy crosses over 500kg started at €1.65/kg up to €1.98/kg. Continental crosses ranged from €2.02/kg up to €2.47/kg.
This Limousin-cross heifer, weighing 520kg, sold for €1,150.
Cows
Table 3 gives a breakdown of cull cow prices. Freisian cows made between €875 and €1,030. Suckler cows started at €1,000 but anything with a bit of flesh made over €1,150 up to a top price of €1,490.
Analysis for this report was generated from the MartBids app. MartBids is a collaboration between the Irish Farmers Journal and livestock marts. The app is available for download on iPhone or Android on the App Store or Google Play. With this app, all of the information that is displayed on the mart board is now available on your smartphone, long before the animal enters the sales ring.
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