Many mart managers are reporting a slight hardening in demand for good-quality slaughter-fit cattle in recent days.
While agents remain coy in their purchasing activity, many are exhibiting keener demand, which is helping to steady prices.
This is not reflected as yet in the average MartBids prices, with prices down week-on-week.
Heavier bullocks weighing in excess of 600kg are trading on average for €3.83/kg, with the top third selling for €4.27/kg.
Some top-quality spring 2024-born store bullocks with good weight for age and weighing over 600kg are selling to €4.30/kg to €4.50/kg.
There is a wide differential in prices paid for Angus- and Hereford-crosses, with such cattle trading anywhere from €3.35/kg to €3.80/kg-plus. Likewise, Friesian bullocks range from €3/kg to €3.60/kg.
Throughput of store cattle weighing 500kg to 600kg is up 10%, with prices averaging €3.92/kg.
The top third of bullocks are 20c/kg stronger than heavier lots at an average of €4.50/kg and top-quality lots ranging from €4.30/kg to €4.80/kg in the main.
There is a similar trend in heifer prices, with entries also up by upwards of 10% on the previous week.
The top third of heifers weighing upwards of 600kg are selling on average for €4.20/kg, with the average price at €3.82/kg and the top third at €4.20/kg to €4.40/kg.
Demand for lighter stores has been boosted by farmers purchasing cattle for summer grazing systems with heifers weighing 400kg to 500kg averaging just over €4/kg.
The top third are selling for €4.68/kg, with prices 10c/kg lower on average than the previous week.
Weanlings are the only category of stock where prices are up across the board.
Mart managers report that an increase in demand from farmers purchasing bulls to go to grass and continued strong demand from buyers purchasing for live export is fuelling an increase in price of upwards of 10c/kg.
The average price has also been helped by some special sales taking place.
The average weanling weighing 300kg to 400kg is selling for €5/kg, with the top third averaging €5.79/kg.
The best-quality bulls are rising to and exceeding €6/kg, with such prices shared by farmers and live exporters. Demand for heavier bulls has also rebounded, with bulls weighing 400kg to 450kg averaging €4.85/kg.
The average price for weanlings weighing 300kg to 400kg is €4.85/kg, with the bottom third at €4.10/kg and the top third at €5.60/kg.
There are higher numbers of light heifers weighing 200kg to 300kg coming on stream, with top-quality lots in demand from farmers looking to limit their spend.
The top third of heifers are selling for €5.82/kg, with the average price at €4.90/kg and the bottom third again representing a wide differential, with prices averaging at €4/kg.
The best-quality continental-cross cows are selling from €3.20/kg to €3.50/kg, with some young cow-heifer types selling to €3.75/kg upwards.
At the other end of the quality spectrum, there is a differential of over €1/kg within prices paid for dairy cows. The general run is from €2.20/kg to €2.65/kg.
Many mart managers are reporting a slight hardening in demand for good-quality slaughter-fit cattle in recent days.
While agents remain coy in their purchasing activity, many are exhibiting keener demand, which is helping to steady prices.
This is not reflected as yet in the average MartBids prices, with prices down week-on-week.
Heavier bullocks weighing in excess of 600kg are trading on average for €3.83/kg, with the top third selling for €4.27/kg.
Some top-quality spring 2024-born store bullocks with good weight for age and weighing over 600kg are selling to €4.30/kg to €4.50/kg.
There is a wide differential in prices paid for Angus- and Hereford-crosses, with such cattle trading anywhere from €3.35/kg to €3.80/kg-plus. Likewise, Friesian bullocks range from €3/kg to €3.60/kg.
Throughput of store cattle weighing 500kg to 600kg is up 10%, with prices averaging €3.92/kg.
The top third of bullocks are 20c/kg stronger than heavier lots at an average of €4.50/kg and top-quality lots ranging from €4.30/kg to €4.80/kg in the main.
There is a similar trend in heifer prices, with entries also up by upwards of 10% on the previous week.
The top third of heifers weighing upwards of 600kg are selling on average for €4.20/kg, with the average price at €3.82/kg and the top third at €4.20/kg to €4.40/kg.
Demand for lighter stores has been boosted by farmers purchasing cattle for summer grazing systems with heifers weighing 400kg to 500kg averaging just over €4/kg.
The top third are selling for €4.68/kg, with prices 10c/kg lower on average than the previous week.
Weanlings are the only category of stock where prices are up across the board.
Mart managers report that an increase in demand from farmers purchasing bulls to go to grass and continued strong demand from buyers purchasing for live export is fuelling an increase in price of upwards of 10c/kg.
The average price has also been helped by some special sales taking place.
The average weanling weighing 300kg to 400kg is selling for €5/kg, with the top third averaging €5.79/kg.
The best-quality bulls are rising to and exceeding €6/kg, with such prices shared by farmers and live exporters. Demand for heavier bulls has also rebounded, with bulls weighing 400kg to 450kg averaging €4.85/kg.
The average price for weanlings weighing 300kg to 400kg is €4.85/kg, with the bottom third at €4.10/kg and the top third at €5.60/kg.
There are higher numbers of light heifers weighing 200kg to 300kg coming on stream, with top-quality lots in demand from farmers looking to limit their spend.
The top third of heifers are selling for €5.82/kg, with the average price at €4.90/kg and the bottom third again representing a wide differential, with prices averaging at €4/kg.
The best-quality continental-cross cows are selling from €3.20/kg to €3.50/kg, with some young cow-heifer types selling to €3.75/kg upwards.
At the other end of the quality spectrum, there is a differential of over €1/kg within prices paid for dairy cows. The general run is from €2.20/kg to €2.65/kg.
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