Numbers are dropping, and rapidly, in marts across the country. According to the MartBids database, less than three months ago we were seeing over three times the number of cattle passing through marts than we have for the last week, but this is just the seasonality of sales.
Weanling numbers have fallen to very low numbers, while calf sales are all but dried up as well.
What few weanlings are passing through mart rings are variable in quality.
Low numbers
It’s important to note that with low numbers passing through the mart rings, a small number of animals in a section, bull weanlings 300-400kg for example, can dramatically affect the price averages, be it for the good or bad.
As a result of this, some seesawing in price from a week-to-week basis is to be expected between now and the autumn sales.
Heifers have seen a positive increase in price this week, having fallen slightly last week, with the top third of heifers’ quality wise seeing the greatest price increases across all weight bands.
Heavy heifers above 600kg+ have seen the greatest increase in price, with average quality lots up by 18c/kg, while the top third of heifers in this are up 44c/kg on the week.
Bullock trade
Th bullock trade is back for the most part, and the price cuts converse the heifers in that the better quality cattle have been hit the hardest, which is generally the case.
Looking back to this time last year and the reality is the live cattle trade is strong when we compare it to the factory trade.
The same week last year, bullocks were at base quotes of €7.30/kg while heifers were at €7.40/kg.
Earlier this week we were looking at base quotes of €6.20-€6.30/kg for bullocks with €6.30-€6.40/kg in play for heifers, a full €1 shy than last year.
When we look at store prices for bullocks and heifers in June 2025, we see bullocks 400-500kg averaging €4.07/kg while heifers average in at €4.10/kg.
The same category of cattle this week are averaging €3.79/kg and €3.82/kg respectively, bang on 28c/kg less for both bullocks and heifers.
A 28c/kg drop in stores despite a fall of €1/head in the factory will leave many finishers scratching their heads wondering is it a case of ‘’fool me twice’’.
If store prices were to fall more in line with factory prices, we would see the average 450kg store by €90/head less.
It’s fantastic for the farmer selling, but it will leave many who finish their own cattle wondering whether or not rolling the dice on beef price worth the risk.
In the weanling ring, bulls have fallen again this week, but from talking to mart managers, so to has quality, with much less export type animals being presented for sale.
It will be august before we see an influx of E and U grading lots prop up the top third price again.
In the cull cows, average quality lots fell by 8c/kg this week to €2.27/kg, while the top third fell by 41c/kg to €3.31/kg.
The bottom third of cows saw an average price of €2.16/kg realised this week, a 2c/kg increase.