According to mart manager Alan Barry, the trade over the last two weeks has been testing in Athenry. “The uncertainty that’s out there at the minute is undoubtedly leaving it very difficult for buyers,” he said.
He added that had it not been for the presence of exporters at last week’s weanling show and sale, the farmer and finisher demand for weanlings would be quite tame.
After moving a short distance from Newford farm, I’m now in Athenry Mart for Tuesday’s general cattle sale. Large entry of cattle and plenty of farmers around the ring.
Follow the action on #MartBids and updates on @FJBeef ?? pic.twitter.com/Okx6Tl1Pqk— Matthew Halpin (@MatthewHalpin22) October 8, 2019
At Tuesday’s general sale, the demand for store cattle was only lukewarm. But, in saying that, quality lots were still attracting attention.
Just under 800 cattle were sold, which according to Barry “was a good number, but actually not as large as it could have been given the current weather conditions and the state of land in some parts of the region”.
Lot 150T, smashing CHx heifer, born Jan 18, weighing 560kg - Sold €1080 pic.twitter.com/o66BegXfNK
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) October 8, 2019
On a broader note, Barry pointed out that numbers of quality suckler cattle are undoubtedly in decline in the west. “While the total cattle number on AIMS is much the same, I think a lot of that is down to higher dairy numbers in the south and east. Suckler herds over here are reducing.”
Lot 152T, lovely CHx heifer, born June 2018, weighing 465kg - Sold €970 pic.twitter.com/MWu1UZPXBv
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) October 8, 2019
Bullocks and bulls
Working up the weights, 400-500kg bullocks averaged €1.85/kg. Within this, Friesian lots averaged €1.15/kg to €1.30/kg while dairy beef lots made from €1.50/kg to €1.80/kg. Continentals started at €1.85/kg and topped out at €2.30/kg.
Bullocks now.
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) October 8, 2019
Lot 1T, AAx bullock, born June 18, weighing 470kg - Sold €910 pic.twitter.com/hYhAj0qHAo
From 500-600kg, the average was €1.74/kg. Again, Friesians put a floor under the trade at €1.15/kg up to €1.40/kg while Hereford and Angus crosses continued up to €1.65/kg. Continentals topped out at €2.10/kg but top-quality continentals made over the €2/kg mark consistently.
Lot 1A, CHx bullock, born June 18, weighing 370kg - sold €740 pic.twitter.com/fu80njr6Ma
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) October 8, 2019
Lot 11B, LimX bullock, born June 18, weighing 500kg - sold €1045. pic.twitter.com/fNrJJ3QR4R
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) October 8, 2019
Bullocks weighing over 600kg sold for an average price of €1.73/kg. Nice-quality lots commanded a price close to and above €2/kg, while plain lots and Friesians were back down at €1.50/kg consistently.
Lot 12H, LimX bullock, born August 17, weighing 530kg - sold €900 pic.twitter.com/FQdCjAg7hU
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) October 8, 2019
Lot 12S, LimX bull, born May 17, weighing 565kg - sold €950 pic.twitter.com/HVpEZwEXCs
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) October 8, 2019
Heifers
Store heifers weighing 400-500kg averaged €1.84/kg, with the top-quality lots breaking €2.10/kg and pushing up as high as €2.50/kg.
Spring 2018 born CHx heifers, average 427kg, sold €950. pic.twitter.com/ffbHOOKOF1
— Matthew Halpin (@MatthewHalpin22) October 8, 2019
Lot 150B, Lim X heifer, Feb 2018 born, weighing 450kg - Sold €910 pic.twitter.com/W7w3CNmrMt
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) October 8, 2019
Lot 163C, smashing square LimX heifer, born April 2018, weighing 500kg - sold €1030 pic.twitter.com/CwToilDzWN
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) October 8, 2019
From 500-600kg, the sale average was €1.73/kg, with best quality this time breaking the €2/kg mark on regular occasions but plain lots back down at €1.45/kg.
Lot 150C, LimX heifer, born March 2018, weighing 430kg - Sold €800 pic.twitter.com/FVBXFt6JUR
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) October 8, 2019
Lot 150D, pair of LimX heifers, born May 2018, averaging 392kg - Sold €750 pic.twitter.com/qFLFuMLXqY
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) October 8, 2019
Athenry Mart
Commission is 1.75% to the seller and €9.25/head to the buyer. Athenry Mart has two weekly cattle sales: bullocks, heifers and dry cows on Tuesdays and cows, calves and weanlings on Thursdays.
Lot 160T, LimX heifer, born May 2017, weighing 515kg, sold €960 pic.twitter.com/Aq7hdQ1br5
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) October 8, 2019
Lot 162S, shapey LimX heifer, born Jun 18, weighing 395kg - sold €935 pic.twitter.com/S2l3547QeO
— FJ Beef (@FJBeef) October 8, 2019
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.
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