Camera at the Mart: great demand for younger heifers in Iveragh

There was a little over 300 cattle on offer in Iveragh Co-operative Mart in Cahersiveen for the Co Kerry mart’s annual soring show and sale of store heifers.

It followed a similar sale for bulls and bullocks last week at the same venue.

Of the stock on offer in the south Kerry mart, there were about 40 cattle that didn’t have Charolais or Limousin on the card, reflecting the strength of continental breeding in the area.

Prices were a little subdued for heavier heifers, as factory price cuts hit home, but for heifers over 600kg, the top third sold for an average price of €3.99/kg.

Trade was a lot hotter for younger stock and this is reflected in the top third of heifers weighing from 300kg to 400kg selling for an average of €5.30/kg.

Following the sale, mart manager Mike Kissane said: “Overall, it was a good sale, but the heavy heifers were a bit tougher.

“Those 600kg-plus heifers were making in or around €4/kg on average. Lighter ones around 500kg and up were making from €3.80/kg to €4.60/kg. The factory trade is bad and that’s a reflection of it.

“Trade was much better for those yearling heifers weighing from 300kg to 370kg. They were a great trade, with plenty of men looking for those for grass. They were making from €4/kg to €5.20/kg and €5.30/kg at times.

Cow trade

“Cows were a good trade too. Factories are anxious for them and those coloured continental cows were making up to €3.70/kg and €3.80/kg.

“With the heifers this week and bulls last week, we’re after two pretty big sales. We had no exporters this week, it was all farmer buyers at the heifer sale, but last week nearly half the bulls went for export and there were three exporters buying.

“The rest of the bulls went for feeding. There was a handful of bullocks in that sale and yearlings were making €5kg/kg-plus, while heavier bullocks were making around €4/kg.

“People are disillusioned with the factory thing. This time last year, beef price was rising nearly every day, but this year it was more subdued.

“It wouldn’t want to go down too much more with the cost of diesel and fertiliser rising at the moment because, if it does, silage crops and everything will get dearer, so farmers are a bit nervous about it.

“Last year was a great confidence boost to the suckler sector and it was the first time in a while where I think cow numbers stabilised around here.

“Prices were good and farmers held on to the cows that they had. If factory price improves, it might encourage more people to stay at it.”