Today’s sale at Headford Mart saw a major focus on safety. The mart decided to close off all cattle penning from the public during the sale in a change of practice at the mart.
Mart manager Joe Wynne said farmers dropped off their cattle and numbered them in the intake race as normal. But only mart staff were allowed beyond that point.
Once all cattle were penned prior to the sale, there was a half-hour window in which farmers and agents could view the cattle in pens.
Benefits
Once the sale began, farmers were moved out of the lairage. There was a clear benefit to this, as the mart staff had an unobstructed yard for moving cattle to and from the sales ring. Before the cow sale and heifer sale commenced, there was another period where prospective buyers could view the stock.
After purchasing an animal, the pass out forms were handed to mart staff, who gathered purchased cattle for loading. Again, no farmers were allowed into the lairage to remove cattle.
While this is a major change for a mart, the process worked quite well, without any issues. Although the entrances had to be policed by mart staff, farmers observed the restrictions.
The sale itself was quite strong, with more cattle and more buyer activity on account of the improved weather and grass growth. Heavy bullocks were a flying trade, with plenty of buyers for all good-quality and plainer types.
This Charolais cross heifer, born May 2016 and weighing 515kg sold for €1240 (€2.41/kg).
This Charolais cross heifer born May 2016 and weighing 515kg sold for €1,240 (€2.41/kg).
This Charolais cross heifer, born July 2016 and weighing 465kg sold for €1110 (€2.37/kg). This Charolais cross heifer born July 2016 and weighing 465kg sold for €1,110 (€2.37/kg).
This Charolais cross heifer, born July 2016 and weighing 455kg sold for €1150 (€2.53/kg). This Charolais cross heifer born July 2016 and weighing 455kg sold for €1,150 (€2.53/kg).
Prices for those over 600kg ranged mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg, but numbers of these were small. Forward stores over 500kg sold mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg, while plainer types made from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg. Stores from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg and to over €2.60/kg for top-quality types.
The heifer trade was quite strong also, with more grass buyer activity evident. Prices ranged mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg for average-quality heifers from 500kg to 600kg, while top-quality types made from €2.30/kg to €2.45/kg. Heifers from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg.
This Charolais cross heifer, born October 2016 and weighing 505kg sold for €1210 (€2.39/kg). This Charolais cross heifer born July 2016 and weighing 455kg sold for €1,150 (€2.53/kg).
This Limousin cross bullock, born April 2016 and weighing 520kg sold for €1260 (€2.42/kg). This Limousin cross bullock born April 2016 and weighing 520kg sold for €1,260 (€2.42/kg).
This Limousin cross bullock, born April 2016 and weighing 450kg sold for €960 (€2.13/kg). This Limousin cross bullock born April 2016 and weighing 450kg sold for €960 (€2.13/kg).
Read more
Lockdown on farmer access at marts
Lesser quality cattle hitting average prices
Today’s sale at Headford Mart saw a major focus on safety. The mart decided to close off all cattle penning from the public during the sale in a change of practice at the mart.
Mart manager Joe Wynne said farmers dropped off their cattle and numbered them in the intake race as normal. But only mart staff were allowed beyond that point.
Once all cattle were penned prior to the sale, there was a half-hour window in which farmers and agents could view the cattle in pens.
Benefits
Once the sale began, farmers were moved out of the lairage. There was a clear benefit to this, as the mart staff had an unobstructed yard for moving cattle to and from the sales ring. Before the cow sale and heifer sale commenced, there was another period where prospective buyers could view the stock.
After purchasing an animal, the pass out forms were handed to mart staff, who gathered purchased cattle for loading. Again, no farmers were allowed into the lairage to remove cattle.
While this is a major change for a mart, the process worked quite well, without any issues. Although the entrances had to be policed by mart staff, farmers observed the restrictions.
The sale itself was quite strong, with more cattle and more buyer activity on account of the improved weather and grass growth. Heavy bullocks were a flying trade, with plenty of buyers for all good-quality and plainer types.
This Charolais cross heifer, born May 2016 and weighing 515kg sold for €1240 (€2.41/kg). This Charolais cross heifer born May 2016 and weighing 515kg sold for €1,240 (€2.41/kg).
This Charolais cross heifer, born July 2016 and weighing 465kg sold for €1110 (€2.37/kg). This Charolais cross heifer born July 2016 and weighing 465kg sold for €1,110 (€2.37/kg).
This Charolais cross heifer, born July 2016 and weighing 455kg sold for €1150 (€2.53/kg). This Charolais cross heifer born July 2016 and weighing 455kg sold for €1,150 (€2.53/kg).
Prices for those over 600kg ranged mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg, but numbers of these were small. Forward stores over 500kg sold mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg, while plainer types made from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg. Stores from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg and to over €2.60/kg for top-quality types.
The heifer trade was quite strong also, with more grass buyer activity evident. Prices ranged mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg for average-quality heifers from 500kg to 600kg, while top-quality types made from €2.30/kg to €2.45/kg. Heifers from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg.
This Charolais cross heifer, born October 2016 and weighing 505kg sold for €1210 (€2.39/kg). This Charolais cross heifer born July 2016 and weighing 455kg sold for €1,150 (€2.53/kg).
This Limousin cross bullock, born April 2016 and weighing 520kg sold for €1260 (€2.42/kg). This Limousin cross bullock born April 2016 and weighing 520kg sold for €1,260 (€2.42/kg).
This Limousin cross bullock, born April 2016 and weighing 450kg sold for €960 (€2.13/kg). This Limousin cross bullock born April 2016 and weighing 450kg sold for €960 (€2.13/kg).
Read more
Lockdown on farmer access at marts
Lesser quality cattle hitting average prices
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