The latest figures published by the Department of Agriculture show 102,276 bovines passing through marts during August.

This represents a marked reduction of 21,137 head, or 17%, compared with August 2022.

The figures back up mart managers' reports of quieter trading activity in recent months.

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There are a number of factors credited in reducing throughput. Inclement weather for much of the summer dented animal performance, with farmers opting to delay selling in a bid to get animals back on track.

Traditional sales of autumn-born weanlings were also lower than expected, with many mart managers pointing to some farmers moving weanlings at a younger age earlier in the year to take advantage of the relatively positive trade.

Year-to-date performance

Delving deeper in to the figures shows 95,880 animals traded in marts during August, with 6,396 head going home unsold. The number of animals unsold increased marginally by 89 head despite the number of animals on offer falling by 21,137 head.

Year-to-date throughput is running at 1.2m head, with 1,154,597 bovines traded and 53,413 animals passing through marts unsold. Total throughput is running 16,444 head lower, comprising 11,298 fewer animals traded and 5,146 fewer unsold animals.

It should also be noted that 2022 was an excellent year for mart throughput, with upwards of 90,000 extra cattle traded. This also comes on the back of a 300,000 head increase in 2021.

The lower throughput figures in August and September is likely to bring about a sharp jump in mart trading in October with early indications already pointing to this.

Regional variation

Marts in Munster continue to dominate throughput, accounting for some 49% of all cattle traded. This is followed by 23.5% in marts in Leinster, 17.9% in Connacht and 9.6% in Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan.

This trend is broadly similar to previous years, with expansion in the national dairy herd fuelling sales in Munster.

Farm-to-farm movements

The number of farm-to-farm movements in August, at 50,945 head, also reduced on 2022 levels, but at a lower level of 9.6%, or 5,387 head. Movements recorded for the year to the end of August were recorded at 1.03m head, down 7,234 head or less than 1%.

The location of farm-to-farm movements follows a similar trend to mart throughput. Some 50% of movements were recorded in Munster, 30% in Leinster, 12% in Connacht and 7% in Ulster.