Specialist sales of suckler weanlings are under way and early reports indicate exceptionally strong demand for good-quality calves on the back of higher beef prices this autumn, and from this week on, farmers with Stormont COVID-19 support fund money to spend.
At Kilrea Mart, this December 2019-born Limousin bullock weighing 310kg sold for £880.
In Ballymena Mart, heifers were the standout trade, with a 400kg Limousin selling for £2,100 (485p/kg) followed by £1,820 for another Limousin weighing 380kg.
Two Limousin heifers, weighing 370kg and 400kg, made £1,500, with a 380kg Blonde D’Aquitaine heifer at £1,340.
Bull weanlings sold to £1,340 on two occasions for a 410kg Charolais and a 440kg Limousin animal.
At Kilrea Mart, this February-born Limousin bullock weighing 340kg sold for £850.
Other standout prices saw bullocks sell from £1,160 to £1,340 for animals weighing 360kg to 440kg, or 297p to 322p/kg.
Those weighing 300kg to 350kg sold from 302p to 322p/kg at the top of the market, peaking at £1,030 for a 340kg Limousin.
Kilrea
At Kilrea Mart, Limousin bull calves sold to £1,000 for 340kg or 294p/kg. Top price per kilo was 373p/kg for a 220kg Charolais bull, which sold for £820. The main run of calves weighing 280kg to 340kg sold for 260p to 290p/kg.
Heifer calves sold to 303p/kg for a 290kg Limousin which made £880.
Markethill
In Markethill Mart, the first special sale of weanlings peaked at £1,000 for a 366kg Charolais bullock (273p/kg), with heifers topping out at £860 for a 402kg Limousin animal.
At Kilrea Mart, this December 2019-born Limousin heifer weighing 360kg sold for £840.
In Camlough Mart, weanlings sold to £1,070 for a 420kg Charolais bullock. Draperstown Mart sold strong weanlings to £1,190 for 490kg, with £1,040 paid for 440kg, and the main run of 270kg to 330kg calves from £760 to £880.
Finished cattle
Elsewhere, the beef trade is again going in the right direction for farmers, with reports suggesting that more prime cattle are being paid prices over 370p/kg this week.
Processing demand is robust, and with supplies tightening in the last week, suppliers are in a strong position to negotiate on price.
Farmers indicate that 370p/kg is widely available, with 4p to 8p/kg more on offer for bigger numbers of in-spec animals. Despite that, official quotes are holding on 350p/kg to 358p/kg for U-3 grading animals.
Live trade
Over the past week, slaughter-fit cattle sold through marts have been an excellent trade, with mart managers reporting renewed competition on the back of improved prices.
Prices of 220p/kg to 230p/kg are being paid on U grading cattle exceeding 700kg, which at 57% kill-out reflects a beef price of 385p/kg to 403p/kg.
Lamb trade
Base quotes on lambs range from 430p to 435p/kg, but farmers offloading midweek report deals of 440p/kg on offer, with a few deals of 445p/kg for larger, specialist finishers.
Prices have eased in Britain, but 460p/kg is still on offer in Scotland.
Read more
‘Bleak future for winter finishers’ amid silence on beef prospects
Beef management: scanning time for spring-calving cows
Specialist sales of suckler weanlings are under way and early reports indicate exceptionally strong demand for good-quality calves on the back of higher beef prices this autumn, and from this week on, farmers with Stormont COVID-19 support fund money to spend.
At Kilrea Mart, this December 2019-born Limousin bullock weighing 310kg sold for £880.
In Ballymena Mart, heifers were the standout trade, with a 400kg Limousin selling for £2,100 (485p/kg) followed by £1,820 for another Limousin weighing 380kg.
Two Limousin heifers, weighing 370kg and 400kg, made £1,500, with a 380kg Blonde D’Aquitaine heifer at £1,340.
Bull weanlings sold to £1,340 on two occasions for a 410kg Charolais and a 440kg Limousin animal.
At Kilrea Mart, this February-born Limousin bullock weighing 340kg sold for £850.
Other standout prices saw bullocks sell from £1,160 to £1,340 for animals weighing 360kg to 440kg, or 297p to 322p/kg.
Those weighing 300kg to 350kg sold from 302p to 322p/kg at the top of the market, peaking at £1,030 for a 340kg Limousin.
Kilrea
At Kilrea Mart, Limousin bull calves sold to £1,000 for 340kg or 294p/kg. Top price per kilo was 373p/kg for a 220kg Charolais bull, which sold for £820. The main run of calves weighing 280kg to 340kg sold for 260p to 290p/kg.
Heifer calves sold to 303p/kg for a 290kg Limousin which made £880.
Markethill
In Markethill Mart, the first special sale of weanlings peaked at £1,000 for a 366kg Charolais bullock (273p/kg), with heifers topping out at £860 for a 402kg Limousin animal.
At Kilrea Mart, this December 2019-born Limousin heifer weighing 360kg sold for £840.
In Camlough Mart, weanlings sold to £1,070 for a 420kg Charolais bullock. Draperstown Mart sold strong weanlings to £1,190 for 490kg, with £1,040 paid for 440kg, and the main run of 270kg to 330kg calves from £760 to £880.
Finished cattle
Elsewhere, the beef trade is again going in the right direction for farmers, with reports suggesting that more prime cattle are being paid prices over 370p/kg this week.
Processing demand is robust, and with supplies tightening in the last week, suppliers are in a strong position to negotiate on price.
Farmers indicate that 370p/kg is widely available, with 4p to 8p/kg more on offer for bigger numbers of in-spec animals. Despite that, official quotes are holding on 350p/kg to 358p/kg for U-3 grading animals.
Live trade
Over the past week, slaughter-fit cattle sold through marts have been an excellent trade, with mart managers reporting renewed competition on the back of improved prices.
Prices of 220p/kg to 230p/kg are being paid on U grading cattle exceeding 700kg, which at 57% kill-out reflects a beef price of 385p/kg to 403p/kg.
Lamb trade
Base quotes on lambs range from 430p to 435p/kg, but farmers offloading midweek report deals of 440p/kg on offer, with a few deals of 445p/kg for larger, specialist finishers.
Prices have eased in Britain, but 460p/kg is still on offer in Scotland.
Read more
‘Bleak future for winter finishers’ amid silence on beef prospects
Beef management: scanning time for spring-calving cows
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: