Camera at the Mart: even the bottom third of bulls top €5/kg in Cahersiveen

There were 381 animals on offer in the spring-born weanling show and sale in Iveragh Co-operative Mart, Cahersiveen, on Tuesday last.

Of those, 273 were bulls and although trade was back on last year, prices were exceptional at the south Kerry venue.

Those weighing from 300kg to 400kg were the most numerous and they averaged €5.35/kg with the top third in that weight range averaging €5.67/kg.

An indication of how strong trade was can be reflected in an average price of €5.01/kg for the bottom third in that category.

Trade was hotter still for lighter bulls weighing from 200kg to 300kg. There was serious farmer demand here especially for top-quality Charolais- and Limousin-crosses and this was reflected in the top third averaging €5.84/kg.

The top third of weanling heifers weighing from 200kg to 300kg were the best sellers among the heifers. They averaged €5.47/kg.

After the sale, manager Mike Kissane said: "We were averaging well over €5/kg for bulls and good ones were even opening at that. It’s great to see.

"There was just the one shipper buying at this sale and they accounted for about a quarter of bulls with the rest bought by both local farmers and those from up the country.

"You could see a big uptake in vaccinations too; people are listening to what’s going on and there was a lot of them had double vaccinations.

"Because exporters have been saying how important it is for them to have weanlings in good health or markets could be lost.

"We’ve been preaching it for 20 years and I’d say a lot more than 60% or 70% were fully vaccinated and a lot were weaned properly too. It’s a major positive.

"There was great life in the heifer trade too. They went well and they were dear, especially them nice little heifers weighing from 220kg to 250kg.

"They were making €5/kg with around €4.60/kg for heavier ones weighing around 350kg. Overall heifers were making from about €4.30 or €4.40/kg to €5/kg."