The strong mart trade is flying in the face of Brexit and the current difficult beef trade.
The past week has seen another positive week despite numbers on offer increasing.
Strong grass supplies in the midlands and south are boosting demand, with farmers and agents actively buying weanlings and store cattle for grass.
The trade for store cattle has rebounded once again and is now just €50 to €60/head behind the same week last year.
The weanling trade has seen another improvement in prices and sellers are saying that prices of better-quality types are now on par with the same time last year.
The cull cow trade is firm.
Despite good grass supplies, buyers are keeping a lid on store cow prices, with the majority of continental feeding cows making from €700 to €900/head, depending on age and weight. Friesian feeding cows are still being sold for about their weight to €100 over the weight.
Steers
Top-quality heavy bullocks over 600kg are a very strong trade and in many cases are selling for more than what they can be killed at.
Top-quality bullocks over 600kg are selling from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg. Average-quality types are trading at about twice the weight.
The average 550kg store bullock is at €2.04/kg, back about 13c/kg or €70/head on the same time last year.
Light stores under 500kg are a strong trade where continentals are on offer, but Angus and Hereford-cross from the dairy herd are back €100/head on last year.
Heifers
The heifer trade has held steady, with heavy heifers over 600kg just 4c/kg or €25/head back on the same week last year.
Forward store heifers are selling for just over €2.00/kg for average-quality types and for up to €2.50/kg or €1,375 for 550kg for top-quality types.
Lighter stores have been met with improved farmer demand and prices are running €30 to €35/head behind the same time last year.
The average 450kg heifer is making €965/head, while the top third are making €135/head over that.
Weanlings
The weanling trade is much more positive than anticipated, with continental bulls in special sales making €850 to €950 per head.
Heavy bulls over 400kg are back about €100 to €120/head on the same time last year, with specialist feeders squeezed by beef prices.
Heifers from 300kg to 400kg are selling mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg for average-quality types.
The top third are making from €2.60/kg to €2.80/kg. Light heifers are a variable trade where the quality on offer is poor.
Read more
Camera at the mart: coloured calves a strong trade
Camera at the mart: average prices running slightly higher than last year
Camera at the mart: in-lamb ewes top €200/head in Cahir Mart
Camera at the mart: super trade for store cattle at Markethill Mart
Northern view: mixed signals on cattle pricing
The strong mart trade is flying in the face of Brexit and the current difficult beef trade.
The past week has seen another positive week despite numbers on offer increasing.
Strong grass supplies in the midlands and south are boosting demand, with farmers and agents actively buying weanlings and store cattle for grass.
The trade for store cattle has rebounded once again and is now just €50 to €60/head behind the same week last year.
The weanling trade has seen another improvement in prices and sellers are saying that prices of better-quality types are now on par with the same time last year.
The cull cow trade is firm.
Despite good grass supplies, buyers are keeping a lid on store cow prices, with the majority of continental feeding cows making from €700 to €900/head, depending on age and weight. Friesian feeding cows are still being sold for about their weight to €100 over the weight.
Steers
Top-quality heavy bullocks over 600kg are a very strong trade and in many cases are selling for more than what they can be killed at.
Top-quality bullocks over 600kg are selling from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg. Average-quality types are trading at about twice the weight.
The average 550kg store bullock is at €2.04/kg, back about 13c/kg or €70/head on the same time last year.
Light stores under 500kg are a strong trade where continentals are on offer, but Angus and Hereford-cross from the dairy herd are back €100/head on last year.
Heifers
The heifer trade has held steady, with heavy heifers over 600kg just 4c/kg or €25/head back on the same week last year.
Forward store heifers are selling for just over €2.00/kg for average-quality types and for up to €2.50/kg or €1,375 for 550kg for top-quality types.
Lighter stores have been met with improved farmer demand and prices are running €30 to €35/head behind the same time last year.
The average 450kg heifer is making €965/head, while the top third are making €135/head over that.
Weanlings
The weanling trade is much more positive than anticipated, with continental bulls in special sales making €850 to €950 per head.
Heavy bulls over 400kg are back about €100 to €120/head on the same time last year, with specialist feeders squeezed by beef prices.
Heifers from 300kg to 400kg are selling mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg for average-quality types.
The top third are making from €2.60/kg to €2.80/kg. Light heifers are a variable trade where the quality on offer is poor.
Read more
Camera at the mart: coloured calves a strong trade
Camera at the mart: average prices running slightly higher than last year
Camera at the mart: in-lamb ewes top €200/head in Cahir Mart
Camera at the mart: super trade for store cattle at Markethill Mart
Northern view: mixed signals on cattle pricing
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