Marts have seen a pickup in numbers in the last week. Galway Races this week meant that some farmers, particularly in the west, choose to move animals last week, as a lot of marts run fewer sales on race week.

Roscrea Mart had just under 550 cattle through the ring last Friday.

There was a big online presence at Friday’s sale, with almost 200 animals knocked down to online purchasers.

Factory agents dominated the trade for heavy cattle, with a number of factories competing for finished cattle in the sale.

Top price in the sale went to a group of three August 2022-born Limousin bullocks weighing 896kg and selling for €4,020 (€4.49/kg).

A June 2022-born Simmental cow weighing 750kg sold for €3,540.

Dry cows in general met a very solid demand, with any cow over 700kg and well covered knocking on the door of €2,500/head.

A lot of good-quality Friesian cull cows sold for between €3.00/kg and €3.50/kg, with the price dependent on weight and flesh.

'Solid' trade

Mart manager Michael Harty described the trade as very solid, with lots of demand from factory agents.

“All of our feeders are talking about the replacement costs of cattle at the moment, but most are buying back in as they don’t really have a choice but to stay going.

“Some of our summer grazers might have eased back a little, but the big feeders are still buying strong, with a few looking at the late autumn time for coming out with finished cattle.”

Autumn concerns

There is a genuine worry in mart circles about the availability of store bullocks and forward bullocks for the autumn trade.

High numbers of weanlings and store cattle being exported in the last two years is leaving good-quality store bullocks in short supply and that’s expected to get worse as we head into the back end of the year.

A good cattle trade all summer has compounded the problem, with store bullock sellers offloading earlier than usual to capitalise on the trade.

“The only thing that is holding the heavy store bullocks at grass at the moment is the cost of replacing them. As grass gets tighter into autumn, we will probably see more of them,” Michael said.

Store bullocks in the 400-500kg sold for between €4.50 and €5.00/kg. It was similar in the heifer ring with a few choice heifers crossing €5/kg.

In pictures

This February 2018 born Salers cow weighed 745kg and sold for €2,950 (€3.96/kg).

This April 2023 born Charolais heifer weighed 645kg and sold for €2,930 (€4.54/kg).

This March 2023 born Friesian heifer weighed 550kg and sold for €2,090 (€3.80/kg).

This February 2015 born Friesian cow weighed 705kg and sold for €2,300 (€3.26/kg).

These four April 2023 born Hereford heifers weighed 601kg and sold for €2,510 (€4.21/kg).

This April 2020 born Aberdeen Angus dry cow weighed 570kg and sold for €1,840 (€3.23/kg).

This February 2019 born Friesian dry cow weighed 675kg and sold for €2,320 (€3.44/kg).

These three April 2023 born Limousin bullocks weighed 563kg and sold for €2,500 (€4.44/kg).

This November 2023 born Charolais bullock weighed 515kg and sold for €2,500 (€4.85/kg).

This April 2020 born Friesian dry cow weighed 590kg and sold for €1,970 (€3.34/kg).

This February 2015 born Friesian dry cow weighed 605kg and sold for €2,060 (€3.40/kg).