Camera at the Mart: lively trade for continentals in Drumshanbo

Drumshanbo Mart, Co Leitrim, has recorded a solid trade for continental cattle over the last few weeks. Manager Eoin Kane said last Friday evening’s sale was possibly the strongest of these, with a good entry of 410 head met with a vibrant demand from farmers, boosted by the upturn in weather and favourable grass supplies.

Given the majority of producers trading in the mart are suckler farmers, there was a good entry of quality continental cattle.

The quality of these was very much reflected in prices paid. Yearling heifers weighing 330kg to 430kg sold from €2/kg to €2.15/kg for plainer-quality O grading types to an average of €2.30/kg to €2.55/kg for R grading lots.

A selection of superior quality lots exceeded this range.

There was a similar trend for store cattle aged 20 to 24 months, while heavy slaughter-fit heifers sold from €1.90/kg to €2.20/kg on average.

The male cattle entry included 40 to 50 bullocks and 110 weanling bulls.

Continental-bred bullocks sold from €1.90/kg to €2.10/kg for plain types or lots with poor weight for age. The main run of prices ranged from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg and up to €2.50/kg or slightly higher for the best-quality lots.

Eoin said it is hard for producers to know if they are best to show weanling bulls entire or as bullocks. The trend in recent months has been stronger demand for bullocks, with a premium in cases of €50 to €80/head.

Prices mirrored those for heifers, with best-quality bulls rising to €2.70/kg to €2.80/kg.

The number of dry cows on offer in mart sales is of concern, but some of these are also cows which would normally be traded in autumn but were held over the winter on the back of improved fodder supplies.

Eoin said the quality of cows was excellent, with an entry of close to 100 head steady on recent weeks’ throughput levels.

The majority of cows were slaughter fit, with O and R grading types selling from €1.60/kg to €1.80/kg on average. Heavy-carcase cows and cow-heifers sold to a top of €1.90/kg to €2.00/kg.

Feeding cows ranged on average from €1.40/kg for aged types with a lower cover of flesh, to €1.60/kg and higher for better-quality short-keep cows. Commission rates average 2% to the seller and €9 to the buyer.