Watch: bluetongue outbreak doesn’t affect Saturday’s mart trade

January is generally a quiet month for marts, with many only getting back to normal routine sales in the last week or so.

Numbers have been small, with a lot of farmers who have held on to cattle this long into the winter generally waiting until the arrival of the grass customer in March and April to bring out their stock for sale.

Saturday's confirmed case of bluetongue in Wexford hasn't affected the trade, with the Irish Farmers Journal Martbids database showing steady sales across the country.

Balla Mart in Co Mayo had close to 450 cattle through the rings on Saturday, with trade described as brisk, especially for forward store cattle.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Balla Mart manager Michael Nolan said: “Dry cows met a great trade here today, with factory agents very active for fleshed cows.

"We had some cows hitting €4.20/kg, with forward store bullocks meeting good demand also.

"We have 300 weanlings booked for next Tuesday night and we’d hope that the exporters will be here. They are an important part of the trade.”

Carrigallen trade

Moving to Leitrim, Carrigallen Mart had 150 weanlings through the ring, with trade described as good, but possibly not hitting the highs as seen in previous weeks.

Suck calves met good farmer demand, but numbers remain low, with no surge expected until February.

Top-quality bull calves in the 300kg to 400kg weight range continue to knock on the door of €6/kg, with a few exceptional weanlings hitting €7/kg.

Heavier bulls in the 400kg to 500kg weight bracket were coming in at €5/kg to €5.50/kg, with better types hitting closer to €6/kg.

Carnew update

Moving south, Carnew Mart had a big entry of over 800 cattle through its ring on Saturday.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, mart manager David Quinn said: “We had a bigger than anticipated entry, with dry cows, bullocks and heifers all meeting good demand.

"Exporter demand for weanlings was back a little, but farmer buyers took up any flack there was and the trade wasn’t impacted by the reduced shipper activity.”