This is a subscriber-only article
Numbers of weanlings offered for sales through the marts across the country are generally starting to slow down slightly. Speaking with mart managers, they’re of the opinion that one or two more good weeks are on the cards before the sizeable weanling sales are over.
Looking at the data, we are seeing that heifer weanlings have already started to see this drop back in numbers. However, this reduction in numbers has led to an increase in prices for heifers across the weight divisions.
Bucking the trends seen throughout the rest of the year, there was a very strong demand for heavier heifer weanlings.
While still relatively small numbers exceeded the 400kg mark, those that did saw the average sale price rise by over 20c/kg.
The better quality of lots rose by even more, with the top third of lots selling for an average price of €2.72/kg.
Top-quality heifers under 300kg continue to sell for over €2.75/kg, exceeding €3/kg on many occasions
Across the rest of the heifer weights, prices were generally up from 2c/kg to 6c/kg.
This increase brings prices similar to those of two weeks ago before the new restrictions came into play.
Top-quality heifers under 300kg continue to sell for over €2.75/kg, exceeding €3/kg on many occasions in numerous marts.
Bull weanlings were generally back on the week, but the difference is generally in the region of less than €5/head.
Numbers of weanling bulls in excess of 450kg have dropped dramatically, with the majority of weanling lots coming out now being lighter, later-born spring calves.
Better-quality, more muscular cattle continued to achieve a premium
This proved very true with a surge in the number of male calves brought to auction under the 300kg mark.
Demand for this type of stock remained high, with prices back only 1c/kg on the week.
Better-quality, more muscular cattle continued to achieve a premium, with the top third of lots selling for an average price of €2.85/kg.
Fit cattle
Factory gate prices remain unchanged, with €3.60/kg available for steers and €3.65/kg for heifers.
Over the past few months, mart prices hovered around the €2/kg mark for fit cattle, which meant that a lot of agents buying had to do so ringside due to farmers not willing to sell directly.
Over the past week, this has remained the case for bullocks, which saw the average mart price settle at €1.96/kg.
It must be noted that the top third of lots sold only dropped by 2c/kg to rest at €2.13/kg
However, the female side is a different story, with prices dropping by 34c/kg on the week to see the average stand at €1.60/kg.
It must be noted that the top third of lots sold only dropped by 2c/kg to rest at €2.13/kg.
This means it’s likely a big influx of dairy or first-cross heifers in the data pool may have affected the analysis, given numbers of fit heifers forward have started to reduce.
Apart from fit cattle, store cattle for both steers and heifer performed very well, with prices generally up across the board.
Mart managers are reporting that store prices are up €25 to €30 a head on previous weeks.
Dairy cows
Over the past week, we have started to see increased numbers of dairy cows coming to auction.
On the bottom of the page, we see how the dairy stronghold of Bandon has seen large increases in cull cows, given that spring-calving herds have now gone into the drying off period and farmers look to offload any unwanted followers.
At the moment, the average cull cow price stands at €1.40/kg, but this includes beef-bred culls.
Over the coming weeks as the dairy cull cow numbers exceed that of the beef, our data should give a truer reflection of prices paid.
SHARING OPTIONS: