Tuesday’s general cattle sale at Fermoy Mart saw a seasonally good entry of about 700 cattle and 300 calves on offer. Mart manager Sean Leahy said that the main talking point at recent sales was the cow trade.
On Tuesday, there were about 100 on offer and these were mostly forward types and parlour cows.
For better-quality cows, Sean said that prices received in the mart on Tuesday were in excess of any of the factory prices on offer.
He urged farmers that before sending cows direct for slaughter, that farmers should sit down and analyse prices in the marts first and see which will attract the best price.
The best demand was for forward cows, with most short-keep Friesian cows making €300 to €350 along with the weight and more at times.
In terms of numbers on offer, there were about 100 on Tuesday, which was back on the previous week, but Sean thinks that numbers over the summer months will hover around the 100 head mark.
The bullock trade was strong also, with lots of demand for all types. Anything over 400kg was met with strong demand and this increased as you went up in weight. Bullocks over 500kg were very easily sold.
Most Angus and Hereford bullocks were selling for around the €2.00/kg, while continentals sold from €2.00/kg to €2.15/kg.
Sean said that lighter Friesians under 400kg were a slower trade and particularly lighter bullocks from 300kg to 350kg.
These sold mainly from €100 to €200 over the weight, while stronger Friesian types over 370kg sold from €640 to €650/head.
Heifers were a better trade than bullocks, with more demand at the ringside. Sean said that there was a 100% clearance in the heifer sale. The majority of good-quality heifers over 400kg sold mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.15/kg, but there were some under the €2.00/kg mark also.
There were about 300 calves available also and Sean said that the trade was as strong as any year.
Almost-weaned Hereford and Angus calves were selling from €300 to €400/head, while Friesians that were almost weaned made from €180 to €270/head.
Export demand for all three- to four-week-old calves was strong.
Commission rates are 1.5% to the seller and 2.5% to the buyer.