Many mart managers report the trade picking up a notch in the last week. The strengthening in the trade is being underpinned by demand being boosted by the strong grass growth rates, while a continued seasonal decline in throughput is generating extra competition.

This is particularly the case for good-quality continental store bullocks and heifers, which are particularly tight in supply.

The only exception to more life in the trade is a continued subdued trade for Friesian and dairy-cross cattle with poor weight for age. There is a differential in prices, ranging anywhere from 10c/kg to 30c/kg between good- and lesser-quality Friesians and dairy crossbreds.

Live exporters continue to drive the trade for calves (see page 65), while exporters handling weanlings are likely to resume purchasing activity in the coming weeks on the back of the news that the Turkish market is opening to private buyers.

Steers

Martwatch shows a significant reduction in prices for heavy cattle weighing 600kg upwards. This is stemming from a sharp drop-off in entries of heavy cattle, with prices holding steady and averaging from €2.00/kg to €2.25/kg, with top-quality U grading continental cattle rising as high as €2.40/kg. Lighter steers are steady, with average prices across the 400kg to 500kg and 500kg to 600kg weight ranges not too dissimilar at €2.24/kg to €2.26/kg. This leaves a 450kg bullock selling for just over €1,000, with the top third rising to €1,190.

Heifers

A similar trend is evident for heifers as with steers. Good-quality continental heifers weighing 400kg to 500kg are selling from €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg, with the highest-quality U grading heifers rising to €2.60/kg to €2.70/kg. Demand for Angus and Hereford heifers is dependent on quality, with better-quality lots selling from €2.15/kg to €2.30/kg, while light and poorly conformed heifers that will have difficulty grading O are falling back to €1.80/kg to €2/kg, with fewer buyers bidding for these lots, as has been the case all year.

Weanlings

Farmers continue to drive demand for weanlings, but live exporters are dipping in and out of the market. Numbers have tightened considerably at a time when finishers purchasing bulls are anxious to replace finished bulls currently being killed. Good-quality R and U grading continental bulls weighing 350kg to 430kg are averaging €2.40/kg to €2.80/kg, with the best-quality Charolais and Limousin bulls rising to, and in cases exceeding, €3/kg. Average prices for heifers are running 6c/kg to 10c/kg above bulls.

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