Cattle sale entries are running well ahead of expectations in marts, reports from mart managers suggest.
There were forecasts coming in to autumn sales that numbers might be significantly lower in light of a reduced national cattle herd and the fact that many autumn 2024-born weanlings were traded earlier than normal to take advantage of higher prices.
It now appears that such higher prices are having the same effect on current throughput with a number of mart managers reporting lighter weanlings being sold that may otherwise have been held on farm over the winter.
The other animal categories boosting sale entries in 2025 is cull cow entries and slaughter-fit bullocks and heifers.
The continued tight supply of finished cattle, evident in last week’s beef kill of 29,776 head running over 4,000 head lower than the corresponding week in 2025, is witnessing factory agents fight it out ringside for finished cattle.
This in turn is encouraging farmers with lower negotiating power or animals that would in a normal scenario possibly be deemed out-of-spec to market animals live.
MartBids analysis shows bullocks weighing over 600kg increased in price by 4c/kg to 5c/kg last week with the top third averaging €4.69/kg while average quality lots sold for €4.28/kg and the bottom third at €3.88/kg.
The trade for cull cows is also flying with the top third averaging €3.87/kg, the average price recorded at €3.22/kg and the bottom third of cows which comprise mainly of Friesian cows averaging €2.49/kg.
Top Friesian cows are hitting as high as €3/kg.
Fatstock fever
Meanwhile, records were smashed in Dingle Mart on Saturday last at their 50th annual fatstock show and sale.
The sale had a top price of €7,020 with a significant number exceeding €4,000 per head and many more above €3,000/head.
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