For the last number of weeks, Carnew Mart has put on a Wednesday afternoon suckler sale to take the pressure off numbers at the general cattle sale which takes place every Saturday.

“Numbers have been absolutely phenomenal during March and April,” said mart manager David Quinn. “There has been much higher numbers of all types of stock for the spring months.

"By mid-May we will be expecting numbers to drop off though,” he added.

Sucklers

A total of 65 suckler cows went through the ring on Wednesday afternoon. A combination of cows with calves at foot and in-calf cows. A full clearance was achieved in what was a lively trade.

“It was a bit of a mixed bag,” said David. “There were no full-herd clearances, moreso farmers cutting down on numbers.”

Lot 532 sold for €1,200 - a 2008-born cow with February-2019 heifer calf at foot.

The going rate for cows with calves at foot was anywhere from €1,100 to €1,700. Younger, larger-framed cows and those with stronger calves achieved the highest prices.

In-calf cows were knocked down at prices between €900 to €1,300.

Lot 537 sold for €1,150 - CH cow, eight months in-calf to CH stock bull.

“Unfortunately we probably are seeing a lot more suckler herds being cleared or reduced,” he said. “There is big interest in dairy in these parts lately and then there’s others that have full-time jobs or are getting on in years that just don’t see the reward in suckler cows anymore.”

Youngstock

A youngstock sale followed immediately after the suckler sale. Four-hundred weanlings were booked in for the sale.

Weanling bulls weighing 200-300kg averaged €2.48/kg with the tops hitting close to the €2.90/kg mark each time.

Bulls at 300-400kg were topping out at €2.70/kg with €2.25/kg being the average. Yearling bulls over 400kg were struggling to get past €2.10/kg.

“Activity for bulls was boosted by shippers. Two well-known shippers filled pens of 35 and 26 bulls,” said Quinn. “There is no doubt most of farmer buyers were favouring the lighter bull with heavier lots meeting a stiff enough trade”, he added.

Weanling heifers averaged between €2.35/kg and €2.40/kg with top quality demanding prices closer to €2.70. Heavier heifers, over 450kg, averaged €2.25/kg.

Over 50 bullocks went through the ring ranging from 350kg to 500kg. The average price was €2.10/kg with the tops hitting the €2.45/kg mark.

Upcoming

Commission rates were 1.5% to the seller and €10 to the buyer.

At 2pm on Saturday 4 May, Carnew Mart has a special entry of 20 red and black Limousin heifers with spring-born Limousin calves at foot.

Analysis for this report was generated from the MartBids app. MartBids is a collaboration between the Irish Farmers Journal and livestock marts. The app is available for download on iPhone or Android on the App Store or Google Play. With this app, all of the information that is displayed on the mart board is now available on your smartphone, long before the animal enters the sales ring.