Poor weather and milk price drives cull cow numbers

A combination of falling milk prices and atrocious weather has resulted in a surge in cull cow numbers hitting marts around the country.

Cow numbers have been a lot stronger than anticipated, said Seán Leahy of Corrin Mart.

“There’s a big tidy up happening, and a definite reluctance among dairy farmers to milk cows on at the current price,” Leahy maintained.

“Cow numbers have increased, we had over 300 this week, and I think they’ll keep coming,” he said.

Bigger numbers were also reported by Michael Harty in Central Auctions and Denis Kirby in Kilmallock.

Although cow prices in the marts have fallen by around €100/head from the peak and factory quotes have dropped 40c/kg to €6.70-6.80/kg for P+3 cows, the mart managers report a strong trade with plenty of buyers.

Friesian cows out of the parlour are generally making from €2.30/kg to €2.90/kg, with over €3/kg being paid for very good cows.

Up to €4/kg is being paid for continental beef cows, with Jerseys back down to around €1.60/kg.

While factory buyers and feeders have been competing for heavy cows, mart managers report that these animals are in short supply at the moment.

Meanwhile, ICMSA has taken aim at the factories for pulling both cow and beef quotes, and urged farmers not to accept the cuts and sell hard.

ICMSA’s livestock committee chair, Michael O’Connell, accused the factories of “artificial supply management” by pulling factory prices, talking down mart prices and buying cheap cattle for their feedlots as a consequence.

“Farmers need to sell hard; they should meet the factories ‘all guns blazing’ and tell them that if they need cattle to fill their Christmas orders – which they do – then they have to pay. Call their bluff: they want the cattle, let them come out and buy them,” O’Connell said.