Elphin Mart has had some big sales of dry cows in recent weeks and Monday night’s sale saw over 130 cows go under the hammer. Dry cows have been a very good trade all autumn, with €2/kg being hit on a regular basis for quality continental cows.
This trade is being driven predominantly by Northern Irish demand, with both southern-based agents and northern-based online bidders competing for cows in recent weeks.
This April 2016-born charolais x weighed 785kg and sold for €1,710 (€2.18/kg).
Happy customers
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal mart Manager Gerry Connellan said: “We probably seen the trade for cows and trade to the North in general ease up a little in the last three to four weeks but it has taken off again in the last seven to 10 days. We have a number of northern-based customers who are bidding online without seeing the stock in the flesh and I’ve received no complaints when the stock are sent up to them.
This March 2010-born Limousin cow weighed 715kg and sold for €1,270 (€1.78/kg).
"Northern customers are always a great lift to the trade and we are very lucky to have a few good, loyal customers here who we have built up a relationship with over the years. I hope there is no disruption to that trade after 1 January because we need that trade here.”
This March 2016-born Limousin cow weighed 635kg and sold for €1,200 (€1.89/kg).
Prices
On the night dry cows were up €50-60/head on previous week’s trading. Good-quality, heavy continental cows hit highs of €2.20/kg. Good-quality continental cows were making €1.80-€2.00/kg while poorer quality cows were around the €1.60-€1.80/kg mark.
There was also a special sucker sale on the night, with the dispersal of the suckler herd of Knockcroghery man Padraig O'Connor taking place. Cows ranged in price from €1,200 to €1,800, with the higher prices going to young cows born from 2016 onwards.
This April 2011-born Simmental x cow weighed 700kg and sold for €1,380 (€1.97/kg).
Weanling trade
Weanlings also met a good trade. The quality of weanlings has dropped off in many marts around the country in recent weeks and this has impacted prices a little, but there are still a number of active customers.
Bull calves in the 300-400kg category were hitting €2.30-€2.50/kg while heavier calves were back at €2.20-€2.40/kg. Heifer calves in the 300-400kg category were making €2.40-€2.60 with more being paid for breeding types.
This March 2011-born charolais x cow weighed 825kg and sold for €1,740 (€2.10/kg).
“We have one of the flagship pedigree sales of the year here next Saturday 5 December, with 118 of the country's best pedigree charolais bulls being sold in the Irish Charolais Cattle Society Christmas Cracker premier bull sale. Viewing is available on Friday night and Saturday morning and farmers need to ring the mart to book a slot,” Connellan said
This May 2014-born dry cow weighed 820kg and sold for €1,650 (€2.01/kg).
Elphin Mart has had some big sales of dry cows in recent weeks and Monday night’s sale saw over 130 cows go under the hammer. Dry cows have been a very good trade all autumn, with €2/kg being hit on a regular basis for quality continental cows.
This trade is being driven predominantly by Northern Irish demand, with both southern-based agents and northern-based online bidders competing for cows in recent weeks.
This April 2016-born charolais x weighed 785kg and sold for €1,710 (€2.18/kg).
Happy customers
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal mart Manager Gerry Connellan said: “We probably seen the trade for cows and trade to the North in general ease up a little in the last three to four weeks but it has taken off again in the last seven to 10 days. We have a number of northern-based customers who are bidding online without seeing the stock in the flesh and I’ve received no complaints when the stock are sent up to them.
This March 2010-born Limousin cow weighed 715kg and sold for €1,270 (€1.78/kg).
"Northern customers are always a great lift to the trade and we are very lucky to have a few good, loyal customers here who we have built up a relationship with over the years. I hope there is no disruption to that trade after 1 January because we need that trade here.”
This March 2016-born Limousin cow weighed 635kg and sold for €1,200 (€1.89/kg).
Prices
On the night dry cows were up €50-60/head on previous week’s trading. Good-quality, heavy continental cows hit highs of €2.20/kg. Good-quality continental cows were making €1.80-€2.00/kg while poorer quality cows were around the €1.60-€1.80/kg mark.
There was also a special sucker sale on the night, with the dispersal of the suckler herd of Knockcroghery man Padraig O'Connor taking place. Cows ranged in price from €1,200 to €1,800, with the higher prices going to young cows born from 2016 onwards.
This April 2011-born Simmental x cow weighed 700kg and sold for €1,380 (€1.97/kg).
Weanling trade
Weanlings also met a good trade. The quality of weanlings has dropped off in many marts around the country in recent weeks and this has impacted prices a little, but there are still a number of active customers.
Bull calves in the 300-400kg category were hitting €2.30-€2.50/kg while heavier calves were back at €2.20-€2.40/kg. Heifer calves in the 300-400kg category were making €2.40-€2.60 with more being paid for breeding types.
This March 2011-born charolais x cow weighed 825kg and sold for €1,740 (€2.10/kg).
“We have one of the flagship pedigree sales of the year here next Saturday 5 December, with 118 of the country's best pedigree charolais bulls being sold in the Irish Charolais Cattle Society Christmas Cracker premier bull sale. Viewing is available on Friday night and Saturday morning and farmers need to ring the mart to book a slot,” Connellan said
This May 2014-born dry cow weighed 820kg and sold for €1,650 (€2.01/kg).
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