Camera at the Mart: harvest bullock sale lights up the ring in Roscommon Mart

The special harvest bullock sale held last Friday in Roscommon Mart witnessed a vibrant trade for quality continental store cattle and slaughter-fit bullocks.

There was a particularly strong farmer demand for 2019-born bullocks weighing 500kg to 600kg and suitable for carrying over the winter and finishing out of the shed or a quick period at grass.

The average price paid for nice-quality Charolais- and Limousin-bred bullocks ranged from €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg, while a selection of top-quality lots sold from €2.60/kg to a top of €2.90/kg.

Plainer-type cattle and lots with poor weight for age that will struggle to finish and avail of quality payment system (QPS) bonuses sold from upwards of €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg.

Bullocks weighing 600kg to 700kg averaged in the region of €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg for Charolais and Limousin cattle, with top-quality lots again capable of securing a premium, with select lots selling to a top of €2.50/kg to €2.60/kg.

These higher prices were typically paid for lots in the low-600kg weight range. Small numbers of plainer types again sold upwards from €2.00/kg.

Specialist finishers and factory agents competed for short-keep and slaughter-fit bullocks.

Good-quality Charolais- and Limousin-bred bullocks weighing 700kg to 900kg averaged in the region of €2.10/kg to €2.25/kg for what was described as an entry of excellent-quality stock.

A selection of quality heavy Hereford bullocks topped €2/kg and sold to €2.10/kg.

The harvest sale of heifers was held the previous week and the entry and quality on offer was down on the previous week.

Nice-quality continental heifers weighing 400kg to 500kg sold from €2.10/kg to €2.35/kg on average, with quality lots selling from €2.40/kg to €2.60/kg.

Heifers in the 500kg to 600kg weight bracket averaged in the region of €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg for continental types, with small numbers with poor weight for age falling under the €2/kg mark. Traditional-bred animals sold from €1.70/kg to €1.80/kg upwards.

Manager Maura Quigley said this week has been much busier for booking in cattle and weanlings, with some farmers anxious to trade stock in light of increased coronavirus restrictions. Buyers are also keen to source higher numbers and this is keeping a good floor under the trade.

The mart is holding another special sale of heifers on Friday and has over 110 pens booked in, while Tuesday evening’s weanling sale will be busy too.