Markets

Forward stores in demand but calf trade under pressure

Numbers on offer on Monday were back on last year. However, the trade was strong, particularly for forward stores and better-quality light stores.

Nathan Tuffy

Wed 21 March 2018 12:00 AM

Nathan Tuffy

Wed 21 March 2018 10:00 PM

Forward stores in demand but calf trade under pressure

This pair of Limousin heifer calves born February 2018 sold for €330 each.

This Limousin bullock, born April 2016 and weighing 650kg sold for €1,355 (€2.08/kg).

This Charolais cross bullock, born March 2017 and weighing 345kg sold for €770 (€2.23/kg).

This Hereford bullock, born March 2017 and weighing 360kg sold for €750 (€2.08/kg).

These three Hereford bullocks, born May 2017 and weighing 318kg on average sold for €690 each (€2.17/kg).

This Friesian bullock, born February 2015 and weighing 595kg sold for €1,040 (€1.75/kg).

This Charolais heifer, born September 2016 and weighing 460kg sold for €1,080 (€2.35/kg).

This Hereford heifer, born March 2017 and weighing 335kg sold for €745 (€2.22/kg).

This pair of Angus heifers, born March 2017 and weighing 410kg on average sold for €810 each (€1.98/kg).

These five Hereford bullocks, born February 2016 and weighing 384kg on average sold for €800 each (€2.08/kg).

This pair of Hereford heifers, born September 2016 and weighing 425kg on average sold for €820 each (€1.93/kg).

This Limousin cross cull cow, born April 2015 and weighing 475kg sold for €560 (€1.18/kg).

This pair of Friesian bull calves born February 2018 sold for €110 each.

This Belgian Blue bull calf born March 2018 sold for €350.

Monday last saw a bank holiday sale take place at Thurles Mart.

Mart manager Martin Ryan said that the number on offer is back on this time last year, but he expects a jump in numbers in the coming weeks.

The calf sale saw about 175 Friesian bull calves on offer. Prices were back on recent weeks and Friesian bulls sold for €90 to €95 on average.

Lighter Friesians sold mainly from €65 to €85, with strong farmers’ calves selling from €130/head upwards.

The number of Angus calves on offer is increasing and prices ranged mainly from €150 to €170/head. Better-quality types sold to €235/head, while plainer Angus calves made from €70 to €95/head.

Herefords were a stronger trade than Angus calves and prices ranged mainly from €170 to €235/head for average-quality types.

One evident trend is that buyers are becoming much choosier when it comes to calves, with a much greater focus on quality, with plain calves being met with poor prices and very weak demand.

Continental calves sold mainly from €280 to €330/head, with better-quality Limousin calves making over €400/head.

The number of heavy bullocks over 600kg on offer was low and the trade for these was strong. The majority were Angus bullocks with a dairy background, which sold mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.18/kg, while continental bullocks sold from €2.30/kg to €2.45/kg or to just shy of €880 over the weight.

Forward store bullocks from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly for €2.05/kg on average. Friesian bullocks made from €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg, with plainer Friesians selling back to €1.70/kg.

Continentals in the same weight range sold from €2.25/kg to €2.40/kg, with Angus and Herefords making from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg.

The heifer trade was quite strong; continentals are rare, with overall numbers running below the norm for this time of year.

Where continental store heifers were on offer, prices of €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg were common. Angus and Hereford store heifers sold mainly from €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg with some better quality types making over €2.00/kg.

Commission rates are €9 for multiples and €10 for singles and €10 to the buyer.