A return to the ringside for farmers saw online sales hold their own at Kanturk marts annual Christmas fatstock show and sale.
Buyers were happy to be back and in a position to get a better view of cattle but they saw plenty of competition when it came to bidding with 50% of the 400 or so cattle on offer selling to online bidders.
Lively prices
Farmers were back on the premises but the ongoing COVID-19 situation meant the atmosphere in the north Cork venue was a bit subdued. There wasn’t much subdued when it came to prices though.
While the fat-stock side of the sale commanded the more eye catching prices, the bread and butter of the Kanturk trade was the traditional beef cross from the dairy herd.
There was a roaring trade for those Angus and Hereford weanlings. A good proportion selling at €2/kg to €2.40/kg.
There was a strong turnout of dry cows with parlour cows making up a good chunk of the numbers. Price ranged from €150 with their weight to €50 under.
Champion of the fatstock was an October 2018 heifer owned by Mervyn Busteed, Bandon. She tipped the scales at 865kg and went under the hammer for €2,640, €3.05/kg.
The overall champion of Kanturk marts fatstock show and sale was this October 2018 born heifer belonging to Mervyn Busteed Bandon.
Social occasion
While farmers were allowed to return, there was a very different atmosphere at Kanturk marts annual fatstock sale.
There’s usually a celebratory mood and it’s a big social occasion, COVID-19 scuppered the crowd with a maximum of 50 including staff allowed into the ring area.
Commenting on the difference, mart manager Seamus O’Keeffe said: “We have half the crowd we normally have. There’s a photo up on the wall from a number of years ago at a fatstock sale and you’d hardly get a pencil into the ring.”
(L to R) Kanturk mart manager, Seamus O'Keeffe and yard manager, Denis Murphy.
Initially unsure about the online option, O’Keeffe has been converted by how well it has performed.
“When we started back in July we were sceptical about it but once we got going and people got used to it, it was a good success and it was working fine with our sellers in the ring.
“When we had to close down completely we then began to realise the benefit that it had for us. A lot of the younger people that were buying didn't have a problem with it. Older people that are all their life around the ring, did have a problem but we helped them out the best we could.
“It was a bit unreal. One day I was in the ring and we were selling cattle and the only thing that was outside the ring was a cat having a look in at us.”
No complaints
Putting a perspective on the challenges Covid 19 has presented the mart, O’Keeffe added: “Agriculture, thanks be to God, hasn’t been the worst hit and people were able to sell their cattle thanks to online.
“People, including myself didn’t realise the benefits of it. We ended up over the last four or five sales with no complaints from sellers and 98 to 95% clearances from 500 and 600 cattle per day.”
Read more
Farmers back ringside: 'you're better off looking at the beast in front of you'
Easing of COVID-19 restrictions: what farmers need to know
A return to the ringside for farmers saw online sales hold their own at Kanturk marts annual Christmas fatstock show and sale.
Buyers were happy to be back and in a position to get a better view of cattle but they saw plenty of competition when it came to bidding with 50% of the 400 or so cattle on offer selling to online bidders.
Lively prices
Farmers were back on the premises but the ongoing COVID-19 situation meant the atmosphere in the north Cork venue was a bit subdued. There wasn’t much subdued when it came to prices though.
While the fat-stock side of the sale commanded the more eye catching prices, the bread and butter of the Kanturk trade was the traditional beef cross from the dairy herd.
There was a roaring trade for those Angus and Hereford weanlings. A good proportion selling at €2/kg to €2.40/kg.
There was a strong turnout of dry cows with parlour cows making up a good chunk of the numbers. Price ranged from €150 with their weight to €50 under.
Champion of the fatstock was an October 2018 heifer owned by Mervyn Busteed, Bandon. She tipped the scales at 865kg and went under the hammer for €2,640, €3.05/kg.
The overall champion of Kanturk marts fatstock show and sale was this October 2018 born heifer belonging to Mervyn Busteed Bandon.
Social occasion
While farmers were allowed to return, there was a very different atmosphere at Kanturk marts annual fatstock sale.
There’s usually a celebratory mood and it’s a big social occasion, COVID-19 scuppered the crowd with a maximum of 50 including staff allowed into the ring area.
Commenting on the difference, mart manager Seamus O’Keeffe said: “We have half the crowd we normally have. There’s a photo up on the wall from a number of years ago at a fatstock sale and you’d hardly get a pencil into the ring.”
(L to R) Kanturk mart manager, Seamus O'Keeffe and yard manager, Denis Murphy.
Initially unsure about the online option, O’Keeffe has been converted by how well it has performed.
“When we started back in July we were sceptical about it but once we got going and people got used to it, it was a good success and it was working fine with our sellers in the ring.
“When we had to close down completely we then began to realise the benefit that it had for us. A lot of the younger people that were buying didn't have a problem with it. Older people that are all their life around the ring, did have a problem but we helped them out the best we could.
“It was a bit unreal. One day I was in the ring and we were selling cattle and the only thing that was outside the ring was a cat having a look in at us.”
No complaints
Putting a perspective on the challenges Covid 19 has presented the mart, O’Keeffe added: “Agriculture, thanks be to God, hasn’t been the worst hit and people were able to sell their cattle thanks to online.
“People, including myself didn’t realise the benefits of it. We ended up over the last four or five sales with no complaints from sellers and 98 to 95% clearances from 500 and 600 cattle per day.”
Read more
Farmers back ringside: 'you're better off looking at the beast in front of you'
Easing of COVID-19 restrictions: what farmers need to know
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