Cattle farmers with plain weanlings to sell face a challenging autumn.

Many are under greater pressure than usual to offload stock because of scarce grass and fodder. But just when a buoyant export trade could help, instead there is disruption in Turkey, the main export market for such cattle.

MartWatch analysis shows that prices are down by an average of €100 per head on last year for such cattle. There is concern about how prices for these plainer animals will move over coming weeks.

Demand for livestock and meat remains very strong in Turkey. But the Turkish lira weakened suddenly in August (moving to 7 lira for €1), making all imports more expensive and complicating trade arrangements. A boat loaded with bulls for Turkey this week in Waterford – but these cattle had been scheduled for export weeks ago.

Because prices here are down, further shipments to Turkey are likely over coming weeks. But these may not be enough to pull prices back to the levels of last autumn.

Demand in Libya is also strong at the moment – at least one boatload will be filled in late September.

The outlook ahead is better for quality weanlings. These are benefiting from good domestic demand from finishers.

Average prices are down by €30/head. Likewise heavier continental store cattle are in demand and the outlook for such cattle is promising. However, demand for plainer cattle from the dairy herd has taken a heavy knock, with prices back by as much as 30c/kg to 50c/kg on last year.