While COVID-19 has disrupted the way cattle are bought and sold, it hasn’t disrupted the prices paid, with a brisk start to the 2021 cattle trade.

Irish Farmers Journal analysis of the MartBids database shows that heavy cattle have seen the biggest rises over the last couple of weeks.

Prices for bullocks over 600kg are up 14c/kg or €84/head in the first fortnight of March compared to the same period last year.

ADVERTISEMENT

Heavy heifers are up 13c/kg on last year or €78/head.

Factory agents and factory-aligned feedlot finishers have been very active in the last few months.

Online bidding means factories can conduct business with relative anonymity, sometimes paying over and above what animals would be worth to kill in factories.

With a higher Northern Ireland (NI) beef price, the live export trade to the North has also taken a huge lift.

It’s been a really positive start to 2021

Some 10,655 cattle were exported to NI for further feeding in the first two months of 2021, more than double the 4,836 in the same period last year.

Calf exports to NI have more than tripled, from 676 head in January-February 2020 to 2,211 head in January-February 2021.

Aurivo mart manager in Balla Stephen Hannon said: “It’s been a really positive start to 2021. We are seeing grass buyers move a little earlier this year than other years to meet ANC stocking rate rules and also a very active trade to NI.

“We are also seeing BEAM take some effect, with some buyers moving to purchase weanlings as opposed to older cattle.”

Central Auctions mart manager Michael Harty said: “Finished cattle in marts are in tight supply and there are lots of customers for them, so trade is good.

“With good weather promised, we are expecting more grass customers to start buying in the next two weeks.”