Marts are slowly getting back into the routine of things after the Christmas break. Elphin Mart is synonymous with great cattle and as one farmer said to me last night, "you want a good one coming to this town me boy".
Last night was full of "good ones" in the dry cow ring. A number of factory agents and buyers were very active for good cows. Cows in the 800kg to 900kg bracket fit to kill were hitting close to the €2/kg mark.
Called into Elphin mart on the way home this evening. Good cows a very good trade. This 5 star April 2015 born Limousin weighed 910kg with the hammer dropping at €1880 (€2.06/kg). @farmersjournal @FJBeef #somemanknowssumtin pic.twitter.com/FEt1SF8VFH
— Adam Woods (@ajwwoods) January 20, 2020
Lesser types or cows that required more feeding were generally back around the €1.70/kg to €1.80/kg mark, with dairy types back around €1.20/kg to €1.50/kg.
There was a super clearance, with 51 out of the 52 cows on sale finding a new home on the night.
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Elphin Mart manager Gerry Connellan said he a seen a noticeable improvement in the trade since Christmas.
"We have a couple of great customers for heavy cows and farmers travel with cows here because of that," he said.
On the northern trade, he said: "There is a few moving north every week and we have had a few enquires from NI customers and UK customers ahead of our big heifer sale on Wednesday 5 February. That sale is generally a good gauge for the market and we hope to have 900 heifers."
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