Thurles Mart had an entry of 561 cattle, dry cows and calves at last Monday’s sale. The entry is higher than the norm for the time of year, but manager Martin Ryan reports that this has been a feature of 2017.
“We have been very happy with the trade in 2017 – prices have been relatively good and we have handled much higher numbers than the same period in 2015 and 2016. Much of the increase has been for Friesian or dairy crossbreds, with rising numbers in the area now being reflected in sales entries,” he said.
According to Martin, another feature helping in recent weeks is some farmers turning cattle quicker.
“It’s been a funny year. Farmers on the driest land were burning up before the recent rain and this brought some numbers forward that we may not have been expecting. Farmers on heavier lands have more grass and remain active, which, overall, has helped maintain a steady trade.”
Quality is becoming more mixed as some farmers come near the end cattle to sell. British Friesian bullocks weighing 300kg to 350kg sold from €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg, with the best lots selling to €2/kg.
Good-quality Angus bullocks and heifers weighing 300kg to 400kg sold in general from €2.00/kg to €2.30/kg, with a few exceptional lots selling to €2.50/kg, with farmers, feeders and factory buyers all competing.
Demand for continental cattle has increased given the increasing percentage of dairy-bred stock. Continental yearlings sold from €2.50/kg to €2.80/kg for R/U- grading stock, with the best lots rising to €3.00/kg. Lighter and younger continental bulls weighing 240kg to 280kg sold from €2.80/kg to €3.20/kg.
Bullocks weighing 450kg to 540kg sold from €2.10/kg for dairy crossbreds to €2.30/kg for R+/U- grading types, with the best quality lots selling to €2.40/kg to €2.50/kg and even higher in cases.
Calf numbers are reducing. Angus heifers sold from €150 to €250, with Herefords from €180 to €280, while top continentals sold to €400 to €420. British Friesian bulls sold from €140 to €180, while Angus bulls sold from €180 to €270 and as high as €400 for reared calves, while Herefords sold from €250 to €350. Commission rates are €10 to the seller, plus 0.5% on the sale value for cattle, and €10 to the buyer.
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More activity in mart sales in 2017
Thurles Mart had an entry of 561 cattle, dry cows and calves at last Monday’s sale. The entry is higher than the norm for the time of year, but manager Martin Ryan reports that this has been a feature of 2017.
“We have been very happy with the trade in 2017 – prices have been relatively good and we have handled much higher numbers than the same period in 2015 and 2016. Much of the increase has been for Friesian or dairy crossbreds, with rising numbers in the area now being reflected in sales entries,” he said.
According to Martin, another feature helping in recent weeks is some farmers turning cattle quicker.
“It’s been a funny year. Farmers on the driest land were burning up before the recent rain and this brought some numbers forward that we may not have been expecting. Farmers on heavier lands have more grass and remain active, which, overall, has helped maintain a steady trade.”
Quality is becoming more mixed as some farmers come near the end cattle to sell. British Friesian bullocks weighing 300kg to 350kg sold from €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg, with the best lots selling to €2/kg.
Good-quality Angus bullocks and heifers weighing 300kg to 400kg sold in general from €2.00/kg to €2.30/kg, with a few exceptional lots selling to €2.50/kg, with farmers, feeders and factory buyers all competing.
Demand for continental cattle has increased given the increasing percentage of dairy-bred stock. Continental yearlings sold from €2.50/kg to €2.80/kg for R/U- grading stock, with the best lots rising to €3.00/kg. Lighter and younger continental bulls weighing 240kg to 280kg sold from €2.80/kg to €3.20/kg.
Bullocks weighing 450kg to 540kg sold from €2.10/kg for dairy crossbreds to €2.30/kg for R+/U- grading types, with the best quality lots selling to €2.40/kg to €2.50/kg and even higher in cases.
Calf numbers are reducing. Angus heifers sold from €150 to €250, with Herefords from €180 to €280, while top continentals sold to €400 to €420. British Friesian bulls sold from €140 to €180, while Angus bulls sold from €180 to €270 and as high as €400 for reared calves, while Herefords sold from €250 to €350. Commission rates are €10 to the seller, plus 0.5% on the sale value for cattle, and €10 to the buyer.
Read more
More activity in mart sales in 2017
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