Farmers and feeders are looking to refill sheds after slaughtering and competition for top-quality in-spec stock is strong.

Such is the demand for beef, that even overage heavy cattle suitable for slaughter are not being discounted by as much as they were a month or two ago.

Some marts have seen an increase in the supply of plainer-quality stock passing through the marts and this has had an impact on average prices in the MartWatch tables.

Demand for cull cows remains very strong, especially for slaughter-fit types.

The number of Friesian cull cows remains high, but demand is strong enough to find a home for almost all animals on offer.

The weanling trade continues to hold firm where good-quality bulls are on offer.

In stronger dairy areas, greater numbers of diary derived stock are resulting in poorer Martwatch prices.

Steers

Heavy forward-store bullocks continue to be a strong trade and prices are running at €25 to €50/head above the same time last year. The average 600kg R grade continental bullock is making €1,300 to €1,350, with prices of over €1,500 being paid for U grades. Forward stores are being met with a firm trade for all quality types, but plainer Angus and Herford stores are a harder sell where weights are down under 500kg. Stores from 400kg to 500kg are steady, but, again, plainer light stores are a hard sell.

Heifers

Heavy heifers over 600kg are scarce, but a strong trade where on offer. Prices of €2.10/kg to €2.15/kg are common for R grades, with U grades making over €2.25/kg. Forward stores from 500kg to 600kg, like bullocks, are a steady trade for continentals, but dairy-crosses are a variable trade, as are plain Limouins and Belgian Blues. Light stores from 400kg to 500kg are running at about €30 to €40/head above the same week last year. Light plain Angus and Herfords are selling mainly from €1.70/kg to €1.80/kg.

Weanlings

Average weanling bull prices have taken a dive in MartWatch, but this is driven by the high proportion of dairy-crosses passing through marts. Where Friesian weanlings are on offer, prices of €1.50/kg to €1.60/kg are common. The average 350kg bull is about €30 to €40/head up on the same week last year, with light bulls just on par. The weanling heifer trade is solid. Average heifers from 300kg to 400kg are making from €780/head, with €900 being paid for fancier types. Like bulls, light heifer prices are on par with the same time last year.

Read more

Forward store cattle in demand at Enniscorthy

Calf prices firm but value in runners

Solid trade for dairy cattle at Ballymena Mart

In-calf heifers up €100/head on average on last year

Strong beef trade keeping a firm floor under cull cow prices