April is traditionally the month where grass cattle buyers come out to make their annual purchases. Many of them need stock to graze for seven months to be eligible for the Area of Natural Constraint (ANC) payment. This usually coincides with good trade for store cattle - or grass cattle, as they are better known in some parts.
Dowra Mart in Co Cavan has a reputation for good store cattle which thrive well when moved up the country and because of this attracts a lot of buyers to its usual Saturday cattle sale.
On a normal Saturday, over 1,000 cattle move through the rings with lorries and jeeps parked everywhere around the town.
A Limousin-cross cow weighing 805kg sold for €1,300.
“We had to limit numbers to 350 to see how we could cope with the new system,” mart manager Terry McGovern said. “Everybody booked in their cattle and we had all the cattle in the yard by 10am. We then allocated time slots to purchasers for viewing. This is the most time-consuming job of all but it worked out well on the day. Everybody tendered their bids and the highest bidder got the stock. It’s the fairest way for both buyer and seller."
Two Charolais bulls born in May and August 2019 weighing 482kg sold for €1,000.
Trade
Trade on the day was best for younger stock with older cattle and dry cows harder shifted. Weanling heifers were a very good trade with a couple of good customers present on the day willing to pay that bit extra to secure stock. As far as €2.80/kg was paid for good Charolais and Limousin heifers weighing around 250kg to 300kg. Top-end heifers were generally around the €2.70/kg mark with lesser types being bought for around €2.50/kg. Heavier heifer weanlings in the 300-400kg bracket were back around €2.30-€2.50/kg with one heifer weighing 388kg selling for €1,000.
Store heifers in the 400-500kg bracket were anywhere from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg depending on quality. Heavier heifers across 500kg were a little harder shifted on the day with €2/kg securing anything over 500kg.
Two Charolais heifer weanlings weighing 385kg sold for €980.
Bull weanlings
Lighter bull weanlings were also a very good trade with calves under 300kg selling from anywhere from €2.50-€3/kg. The standout sale was a pen of Charolais-cross runners weighing 202kg selling for €675 or €3.34/kg. Bull weanlings in the 300-400kg bracket also met good demand with €2.50 freely available for good sorts.
Store bullocks in the 400-500kg bracket made from €2.20-€2.50/kg depending on quality. Dry cows met an easier trade with good cows around 800kg being sold for €1.60/kg. Poorer quality, lighter, less-fleshed cows were back at €1.40/kg.
Three May 2017-born Charolais heifers weighing 618kg sold for €1,230.
This 400kg Limousin weanling heifer weighed 400kg and sold for €950.
Four Limousin-cross bullocks born from March to June 2019 weighed 420kg and sold for €1,050.
Read more
Map: downward beef price spiral continues
MartBids report: weekly roundup of calf prices
Cattle export firm seeks young beef bulls
April is traditionally the month where grass cattle buyers come out to make their annual purchases. Many of them need stock to graze for seven months to be eligible for the Area of Natural Constraint (ANC) payment. This usually coincides with good trade for store cattle - or grass cattle, as they are better known in some parts.
Dowra Mart in Co Cavan has a reputation for good store cattle which thrive well when moved up the country and because of this attracts a lot of buyers to its usual Saturday cattle sale.
On a normal Saturday, over 1,000 cattle move through the rings with lorries and jeeps parked everywhere around the town.
A Limousin-cross cow weighing 805kg sold for €1,300.
“We had to limit numbers to 350 to see how we could cope with the new system,” mart manager Terry McGovern said. “Everybody booked in their cattle and we had all the cattle in the yard by 10am. We then allocated time slots to purchasers for viewing. This is the most time-consuming job of all but it worked out well on the day. Everybody tendered their bids and the highest bidder got the stock. It’s the fairest way for both buyer and seller."
Two Charolais bulls born in May and August 2019 weighing 482kg sold for €1,000.
Trade
Trade on the day was best for younger stock with older cattle and dry cows harder shifted. Weanling heifers were a very good trade with a couple of good customers present on the day willing to pay that bit extra to secure stock. As far as €2.80/kg was paid for good Charolais and Limousin heifers weighing around 250kg to 300kg. Top-end heifers were generally around the €2.70/kg mark with lesser types being bought for around €2.50/kg. Heavier heifer weanlings in the 300-400kg bracket were back around €2.30-€2.50/kg with one heifer weighing 388kg selling for €1,000.
Store heifers in the 400-500kg bracket were anywhere from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg depending on quality. Heavier heifers across 500kg were a little harder shifted on the day with €2/kg securing anything over 500kg.
Two Charolais heifer weanlings weighing 385kg sold for €980.
Bull weanlings
Lighter bull weanlings were also a very good trade with calves under 300kg selling from anywhere from €2.50-€3/kg. The standout sale was a pen of Charolais-cross runners weighing 202kg selling for €675 or €3.34/kg. Bull weanlings in the 300-400kg bracket also met good demand with €2.50 freely available for good sorts.
Store bullocks in the 400-500kg bracket made from €2.20-€2.50/kg depending on quality. Dry cows met an easier trade with good cows around 800kg being sold for €1.60/kg. Poorer quality, lighter, less-fleshed cows were back at €1.40/kg.
Three May 2017-born Charolais heifers weighing 618kg sold for €1,230.
This 400kg Limousin weanling heifer weighed 400kg and sold for €950.
Four Limousin-cross bullocks born from March to June 2019 weighed 420kg and sold for €1,050.
Read more
Map: downward beef price spiral continues
MartBids report: weekly roundup of calf prices
Cattle export firm seeks young beef bulls
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