Like recent weeks, the main demand for weanling bulls at sales all over the country is from exporters and this has strengthened the trade, with buyers very active for a variety of quality types at all sales.
Plainer-quality weanling heifers are still a difficult trade, along with stores, as there is less farmer demand for these.
The backlog of slaughter-fit cattle on farms is still having an impact at mart level, with few farmers actively buying strong stores so far.
It is hoped that with cattle now slowly moving for slaughter this will ease in the coming weeks, but some mart managers are afraid that it will take some time to do so.
Heavy stores are still a difficult trade, especially plainer-quality types.
Lighter stores are probably the best value in the marketplace, with weanling prices not too far behind light store prices.
In some cases, this is leading farmers to buy 400kg to 450kg store bullocks rather than weanlings, as they are seeing a quicker return for the same investment.
Steers
Those over 600kg are a steady trade, with buyers focusing on quality. Average-quality continentals over 600kg are selling from €1.85/kg to €1.90/kg, with U grades to €2.10/kg, similar to last week. Stores from 500kg to 600kg are mainly from €1.90/kg to €2.10/kg for R grades and up to €2.20/kg for U grades. Where Friesian steers are on offer, prices of €1.50/kg to €1.60/kg are common. Light stores from 400kg to 500kg are a steady trade, making from €1.90/kg to €2.10/kg for average quality continentals.
Heifers
The average 550kg heifer is selling for €2.02/kg, up 6c/kg on last week. Angus and Herefords in the same range are selling from €1.70/kg to €1.80/kg, depending on quality. Lighter store heifers from 400kg to 500kg are mainly from €1.90/kg to €2.10/kg for average-quality continentals, up slightly on last week. The roll-out of ANC payments is creating more bite. At the top, some U grades are selling to over €2.20/kg. Plain-quality light store heifers are a difficult trade, with prices of the bottom third from €1.50/kg to €1.70/kg.
Weanlings
Export demand is driving weanling prices. Some mart managers are reporting over two-thirds of the weanling bulls on offer in sales being sold to exporters. Weanling bulls from 300kg to 400kg are selling for 8c/kg or €25 to €30/head more than the same time last year, while lighter bull prices under 300kg are running 11c/kg or €22 to €30/head above. Plainer-quality bulls and plain heifers are still a difficult trade due to weak demand. Heavy bulls over 500kg are a steady trade, with finishers still active at special sales.
Read more
Camera at the Mart: exporter and farmer activity underpin the trade
Exporters the main buyers at Portumna weanling sale
Camera at the Mart: premium prices for Scotch ewe lambs
Camera at the Mart: sharper trade for fleshed heifers at Dungannon
NI trends: cattle quotes holding at 320p/kg; lamb prices down
Like recent weeks, the main demand for weanling bulls at sales all over the country is from exporters and this has strengthened the trade, with buyers very active for a variety of quality types at all sales.
Plainer-quality weanling heifers are still a difficult trade, along with stores, as there is less farmer demand for these.
The backlog of slaughter-fit cattle on farms is still having an impact at mart level, with few farmers actively buying strong stores so far.
It is hoped that with cattle now slowly moving for slaughter this will ease in the coming weeks, but some mart managers are afraid that it will take some time to do so.
Heavy stores are still a difficult trade, especially plainer-quality types.
Lighter stores are probably the best value in the marketplace, with weanling prices not too far behind light store prices.
In some cases, this is leading farmers to buy 400kg to 450kg store bullocks rather than weanlings, as they are seeing a quicker return for the same investment.
Steers
Those over 600kg are a steady trade, with buyers focusing on quality. Average-quality continentals over 600kg are selling from €1.85/kg to €1.90/kg, with U grades to €2.10/kg, similar to last week. Stores from 500kg to 600kg are mainly from €1.90/kg to €2.10/kg for R grades and up to €2.20/kg for U grades. Where Friesian steers are on offer, prices of €1.50/kg to €1.60/kg are common. Light stores from 400kg to 500kg are a steady trade, making from €1.90/kg to €2.10/kg for average quality continentals.
Heifers
The average 550kg heifer is selling for €2.02/kg, up 6c/kg on last week. Angus and Herefords in the same range are selling from €1.70/kg to €1.80/kg, depending on quality. Lighter store heifers from 400kg to 500kg are mainly from €1.90/kg to €2.10/kg for average-quality continentals, up slightly on last week. The roll-out of ANC payments is creating more bite. At the top, some U grades are selling to over €2.20/kg. Plain-quality light store heifers are a difficult trade, with prices of the bottom third from €1.50/kg to €1.70/kg.
Weanlings
Export demand is driving weanling prices. Some mart managers are reporting over two-thirds of the weanling bulls on offer in sales being sold to exporters. Weanling bulls from 300kg to 400kg are selling for 8c/kg or €25 to €30/head more than the same time last year, while lighter bull prices under 300kg are running 11c/kg or €22 to €30/head above. Plainer-quality bulls and plain heifers are still a difficult trade due to weak demand. Heavy bulls over 500kg are a steady trade, with finishers still active at special sales.
Read more
Camera at the Mart: exporter and farmer activity underpin the trade
Exporters the main buyers at Portumna weanling sale
Camera at the Mart: premium prices for Scotch ewe lambs
Camera at the Mart: sharper trade for fleshed heifers at Dungannon
NI trends: cattle quotes holding at 320p/kg; lamb prices down
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