Grass buyers lift cattle trade

The cattle trade has taken a positive turn in recent days with the sunshine and warm temperatures adding some life to grass fields and, in turn, adding a little life around the mart rings.

Irish Farmers Journal MartBids analysis shows store cattle continue to rise in price with the average 400kg to 500kg grass bullock trading at €2.46/kg, up from €2.41/kg in February and €2.26/kg in January.

It is a similar story in the grass heifer category with average heifers trading at €2.52/kg, up from €2.49/kg in February and €2.35/kg in January 2022.

On the weanling front, the top third of 300kg to 400kg heifer weanlings hit €3.02/kg for March, up from €2.98/kg in February and €2.97/kg in January.

The top third of bull weanlings remain a steady trade with €3.02/kg being paid in March, no change since February, and up from €2.85/kg in January.

In general, March 2022 store cattle and weanling prices are running from 25c/kg to 30c/kg ahead of March 2021 prices.