Factory buyers active for forward cattle

Forward cattle of all classes were in demand at Gortatlea Mart on Friday last for the Co Kerry mart’s weekly sale.

Factory buyers drove trade, and the presence of a few extra northern buyers helped push things on a bit when it came to heavier stock.

With the exception of Friesian cows, prices for all forward stock were pretty similar across all classes of heavy cattle.

There were a number of standout prices in the cow sale, but a few lots of Friesian bullocks weighing from 500kg to 700kg sold for between €2.51/kg to €2.57/kg told a story of just where demand for forward stock is at present.

The top end of prices for Angus and continental-crosses were 20c/kg to 50c/kg ahead of those forward Friesian bullock prices.

When it came to fleshed suckler cows, prices were pretty much the same as those young stock, while forward Friesian cows made from €1.80/kg to €2/kg.

While factory fit or forward stock hit a good vein of demand, concerns around grass growth and availability had an impact on the trade for lighter stock.

Bullocks weighing less than 500kg were back about 20c/kg compared to heavier animals.

Angus heifers less than 500kg were generally making €2.50/kg to €2.60/kg, while those over the 500kg threshold made from €2.74/kg to €2.81/kg. That put them on a similar price range to continental heifers the same weight.

Speaking after the sale, mart manager, Maurice Brosnan said; “Cattle prices were in a sticky spot for a while over the last five or six weeks, but they seemed to be levelling off again. There seems to be a lot more want for heavy beef and forward cattle.

“Supplies are tight for factories and they could be like that for a month of six weeks yet. You’d see it around the ringside as it was well attended by buyers. There were a few extra northern buyers around too, and they want those heavy cattle.

“That’s helping trade as cattle are making a lot more in the ring than compared to the price a factory would pay a farmer for them.”

On a similar note, he added that there was a growing number of stock bulls coming on the market, with the breeding season winding down on many farms.

“We had around 100 stock bulls and they were selling from €1,700 to €2,200. There was good demand for them, it was similar to the cows.”