Trade continues to seesaw, with lighter cattle taking the hit this week while we have seen some recovery in heavy and forward cattle prices.

The big talking point this week has been Brittany Ferries pulling out of the live export trade, despite recent assurances by the company that it would continue to offer this service.

This is a major blow to the live export trade following Stena Line having stepped away last year from live exports, leaving only Irish Ferries as the sole exporter for roll on, roll off exports.

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In recent years, we have seen the larger exporters of weanlings and beef cattle to mainly African countries commissioning their own boats such as the Alondra and Shorthorn Express, with smaller exporters still relying on the above ferry services to meet their needs for shipping cattle to the continent.

It will certainly limit opportunities for smaller exporters in the coming months, but a more pressing issue awaits come spring 2027.

Lives exports of calves via ferry depend on the likes of Brittany Ferries to provide a service. With only one of three companies now allowing such exports, capacity is limited.

A spell of bad weather in spring where boats don’t sail could spell disaster for dairy and beef farmers alike. Dairy farmers will be backed up with calves, or be forced to sell them at a cheap price.

Cheap calves are not the answer to tight beef margins either, as additional cattle coming fit for slaughter two years later could spell significant price pressure with the supply:demand ratio tipping in the favour of factories.

Around the ring

Numbers have increased this week to more normal levels after a significant dip seen last week. In both the heifer and bullock ring, lighter cattle are a slightly tougher trade. Surprisingly, in the heifers we are now seeing all average quality heifers trading between €3.63 and €3.68/kg; normal trade would dictate that lighter animals would have a higher price per kilo. The top selling heifer this week was the 500-600kg top third heifer trading at €4.21/kg.

Bullocks are on par price wise for average quality lots after heavy bullocks saw a slight lift in price over the last week, with lots above 500kg trading to an average of €3.62/kg.

Where we see a difference is in the top third of bullocks, where light bullocks are trading at €4.26-€4.36/kg, while lots above are back down at €4.02/kg.

In the weanlings, light bull calves 200-300kg took a major hit of 46c/kg, but with numbers low I suspect that this is a glut of poorer quality dairy beef calves coming from one or two marts and we should see this price recover.

Average quality weanlings are trading between €4.64-€4.70/kg, with heavier bulls having risen in price by 10c/kg.

Heifer weanlings too have taken a tumble, with light runner type animals the hardest hit. Cow numbers remain strong while prices have dipped slightly.

Average quality cows are back 2c/kg to €2.83/kg, while top end cows are back 11c/kg to €3.38/kg.