The mart trade took a major step towards normal resumption of trading on Monday. The easing in coronavirus restrictions allowed buyers back to bid at the ringside and, in some marts, farmers also returned to the seller’s box.

A high number of marts were also operating a dual bidding system

The number of buyers permitted entry varied depending on the size of the ring and how many people could be accommodated while adhering to the two metre social distancing guidelines.

A high number of marts were also operating a dual bidding system, whereby buyers could bid at the ringside or online.

Where sellers returned to the fold, they were allotted a time to attend. A high percentage of sellers opted to take advantage of this allowance, while, in some cases, farmers who were worried about attending sales opted to sell animals subject to confirming the sale over the phone.

Strong throughput

Throughput this week is reported as strong, with many sales operating with entries above normal for the time of year.

It is likely that this will leave sales busier than normal for June and possibly into July

This is not surprising, given a significant percentage of farmers delayed trading of animals until the auction system with bidders present at the ringside returned.

It is likely that this will leave sales busier than normal for June and possibly into July.

Steady trade

The trade in recent weeks has been relatively steady for weanlings and stores, while the upward momentum for beef cattle that was evident in recent weeks has subsided on the back of factory prices stagnating.

MartBids analysis of cattle traded in the last week is summarised in the tables above.

Good-quality forward stores and beef cattle weighing upwards of 600kg are trading from €1.90/kg to €2.10/kg on average.

The best demand for stores is for 2019-born cattle with good weight for age that will have no problem killing in-spec

Plainer-quality animals and cattle that are likely to kill out of spec are trading back to €1.60/kg to €1.70/kg.

The best demand for stores is for 2019-born cattle with good weight for age that will have no problem killing in-spec when eventually finished and availing of QPS bonuses.

Nice-quality R and U grading bullocks and heifers weighing 400kg to 500kg are trading on average from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg, with select excellent-quality lots rising to a top price of €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg.

Clearance rates are averaging in the region of 90% to 92%

Angus and Hereford heifers are typically selling within a price range of €1.80/kg to €2.00/kg, with plainer-quality lots that will struggle to grade falling below this price range.

Clearance rates are averaging in the region of 90% to 92%, but this ranges between marts from a little over 80% to as high as 95% to 96%.

Weanling trade

The trade for weanling bulls is varied. There appears to be plenty of farmer buyers for good-quality continental weanlings in the 330kg to 380kg bracket that are young enough to feed on as bulls or that are suitable to castrate.

Continental bulls with poor weight for age or plainer in quality are averaging around €2/kg

Good-quality continental bulls range in price from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg, with the best-quality lots rising to €2.50/kg to €2.60/kg. There is also firm export demand where suitable lots appear, with prices ranging anywhere from €2.50/kg to north of €3/kg for exceptional-quality bulls.

Heavier bulls are a trickier trade. Continental bulls with poor weight for age or plainer in quality are averaging around €2/kg, with better-quality types weighing 400kg to 450kg selling from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg on average.

Dry cows

The average price analysed through the MartBids system for cows was recorded at €1.42/kg.

A high percentage of slaughter-fit R grading continental cows are falling within a price range starting at €1.40/kg for aged cows and increasing to €1.70/kg for fitter cows.

There is massive variation in prices paid for Friesian cows, with quality also varying hugely

Top-quality U grading lots and young cow heifers are attracting extra competition, with prices ranging from €1.70/kg to €1.85/kg and in isolated cases rising to €1.90/kg to €2.00/kg.

There is massive variation in prices paid for Friesian cows, with quality also varying hugely.

Heavier-carcase O grading cows are typically selling from €1.15/kg to €1.30/kg, with cows lacking flesh and P grading lots falling back to €1/kg.

Cows fresh from the parlour and lacking flesh are selling from 70c/kg to 80c/kg upwards for aged lots lacking condition.