6% more cattle sold in marts in first half of 2025
The increase in throughput is helped by the number of cattle presented in sales but returning home unsold more than halving compared with the corresponding period in 2024.
Weanlings waiting to be loaded following a successful sale in Cahersiveen.
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The latest mart throughput data released by the Department of Agriculture shows the number of cattle traded in marts for the first half of 2025 increasing by 55,897 head or 5.9% compared with 2024.
The higher sales figures have been recorded despite a decline in the national herd and have been underpinned by a sharp increase in the value of cattle encouraging more farmers to market cattle in the ring.
The higher value of animals has also more than halved the number of cattle presented in sales but returning home unsold, as detailed in Table 1.
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This equates to one of the highest clearance rates on record, with 98% of cattle presented changing hands.
Trade by province
Marts in Munster continue to account for over 50% of cattle traded.
This is influenced primarily by the large number of dairy cows and a sizeable suckler herd in Clare.
Approximately 23% of cattle traded passed through the ring in Leinster marts, followed by 16.6% in Connacht and just shy of 9% in Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan.
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Title: 6% more cattle sold in marts in first half of 2025
The increase in throughput is helped by the number of cattle presented in sales but returning home unsold more than halving compared with the corresponding period in 2024.
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The latest mart throughput data released by the Department of Agriculture shows the number of cattle traded in marts for the first half of 2025 increasing by 55,897 head or 5.9% compared with 2024.
The higher sales figures have been recorded despite a decline in the national herd and have been underpinned by a sharp increase in the value of cattle encouraging more farmers to market cattle in the ring.
The higher value of animals has also more than halved the number of cattle presented in sales but returning home unsold, as detailed in Table 1.
This equates to one of the highest clearance rates on record, with 98% of cattle presented changing hands.
Trade by province
Marts in Munster continue to account for over 50% of cattle traded.
This is influenced primarily by the large number of dairy cows and a sizeable suckler herd in Clare.
Approximately 23% of cattle traded passed through the ring in Leinster marts, followed by 16.6% in Connacht and just shy of 9% in Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan.
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