A significant increase in cull cow entries is helping to compensate for falling numbers The greatest lift is in dairy strongholds, with dairy farmers moving cull cows faster. There is firm demand for good feeding cows with an average cover of flesh.
Prices average €0.70/kg to €0.90/kg, with factory agents competing for the better-quality lots. Heavy-carcase slaughter-fit dairy cows are securing better prices rising to €1.10/kg on average.
At the other end of the quality scale, there are small numbers of under-fleshed poor-quality cows selling from €0.50/kg to €0.65/kg.
Cows with a good cover of flesh are trading on average from €1.30/kg to €1.50/kg
Beef-bred feeding cows are selling on average from €1.00/kg to €1.20/kg, with some aged cows lacking flesh falling below the €1/kg mark. Cows with a good cover of flesh are trading on average from €1.30/kg to €1.50/kg, with heavy fleshed and young cows rising to €1.65/kg to €1.70/kg.
Leaving the vibrant in-calf heifer sale in Elphin aside, the trade for in-calf heifers is stagnant. Suckler-bred heifers are starting as low as €900 to €1,100 for dairy-crosses, with nice-quality heifers averaging €1,330 to €1,500 and small numbers rising to €1,700 to €1,800. In-calf dairy heifers are reported as selling well in Kilkenny, with prices ranging from €900 to €1,360.
Steers
A reduction in entries of better-quality cattle is generating more competition for these types. Steers weighing 450kg to 550kg range on average from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg.
There is a wide differential based on quality, with aged lots with poor weight for age selling back to €1.70/kg to €1.80/kg.
Heavy steers weighing 600kg-plus range from €1.75/kg to €1.90/kg, with a selection of top-quality lots exceeding €2/kg.
Angus and Hereford cattle average €1.50/kg to €1.80/kg, with small numbers below this. Friesian steers are averaging from €1.40/kg to €1.55/kg.
Heifers
The heifer trade is recording a similar trend.
The trade for Angus and Hereford heifers is very much influenced by the potential carcase weight when slaughtered.
Continental heifers range from €1.90/kg to €2.15/kg on average
Poor-quality types that will struggle to grade and weight are trading from as low as €1.35/kg to €1.55/kg in dairy areas which have seen a shift to crossbreeding, while better-quality types are from €1.50/kg to €1.75/kg on average.
Continental heifers range from €1.90/kg to €2.15/kg on average, with excellent-quality lots to €2.30/kg.
Weanlings
There has been renewed interest from live exporters in the last week, with demand focused on bulls weighing 280kg to 330kg and excellent-quality lots suitable for export to Italy.
Weanling bulls weighing 280kg to 360kg are dominating sale entries.
Average-quality types are selling around the €2/kg mark
Prices range from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg on average for good-quality continental-bred bulls, with top-quality U grading types rising to €2.70/kg to €2.80/kg.
Average-quality types are selling around the €2/kg mark. Numbers of heavy bulls over 450kg liveweight are falling off, with R/U lots from €1.85/kg to €2.10/kg.
Read more
Camera at the mart: more life to store trade in Nenagh
Camera at the mart: butchers' lamb prices strengthen in Fermoy
Camera at the mart: 'sensible trade' for in-calf heifers at Dingwall
NI trends: sharper beef trade as numbers tighten as lamb prices rise
A significant increase in cull cow entries is helping to compensate for falling numbers The greatest lift is in dairy strongholds, with dairy farmers moving cull cows faster. There is firm demand for good feeding cows with an average cover of flesh.
Prices average €0.70/kg to €0.90/kg, with factory agents competing for the better-quality lots. Heavy-carcase slaughter-fit dairy cows are securing better prices rising to €1.10/kg on average.
At the other end of the quality scale, there are small numbers of under-fleshed poor-quality cows selling from €0.50/kg to €0.65/kg.
Cows with a good cover of flesh are trading on average from €1.30/kg to €1.50/kg
Beef-bred feeding cows are selling on average from €1.00/kg to €1.20/kg, with some aged cows lacking flesh falling below the €1/kg mark. Cows with a good cover of flesh are trading on average from €1.30/kg to €1.50/kg, with heavy fleshed and young cows rising to €1.65/kg to €1.70/kg.
Leaving the vibrant in-calf heifer sale in Elphin aside, the trade for in-calf heifers is stagnant. Suckler-bred heifers are starting as low as €900 to €1,100 for dairy-crosses, with nice-quality heifers averaging €1,330 to €1,500 and small numbers rising to €1,700 to €1,800. In-calf dairy heifers are reported as selling well in Kilkenny, with prices ranging from €900 to €1,360.
Steers
A reduction in entries of better-quality cattle is generating more competition for these types. Steers weighing 450kg to 550kg range on average from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg.
There is a wide differential based on quality, with aged lots with poor weight for age selling back to €1.70/kg to €1.80/kg.
Heavy steers weighing 600kg-plus range from €1.75/kg to €1.90/kg, with a selection of top-quality lots exceeding €2/kg.
Angus and Hereford cattle average €1.50/kg to €1.80/kg, with small numbers below this. Friesian steers are averaging from €1.40/kg to €1.55/kg.
Heifers
The heifer trade is recording a similar trend.
The trade for Angus and Hereford heifers is very much influenced by the potential carcase weight when slaughtered.
Continental heifers range from €1.90/kg to €2.15/kg on average
Poor-quality types that will struggle to grade and weight are trading from as low as €1.35/kg to €1.55/kg in dairy areas which have seen a shift to crossbreeding, while better-quality types are from €1.50/kg to €1.75/kg on average.
Continental heifers range from €1.90/kg to €2.15/kg on average, with excellent-quality lots to €2.30/kg.
Weanlings
There has been renewed interest from live exporters in the last week, with demand focused on bulls weighing 280kg to 330kg and excellent-quality lots suitable for export to Italy.
Weanling bulls weighing 280kg to 360kg are dominating sale entries.
Average-quality types are selling around the €2/kg mark
Prices range from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg on average for good-quality continental-bred bulls, with top-quality U grading types rising to €2.70/kg to €2.80/kg.
Average-quality types are selling around the €2/kg mark. Numbers of heavy bulls over 450kg liveweight are falling off, with R/U lots from €1.85/kg to €2.10/kg.
Read more
Camera at the mart: more life to store trade in Nenagh
Camera at the mart: butchers' lamb prices strengthen in Fermoy
Camera at the mart: 'sensible trade' for in-calf heifers at Dingwall
NI trends: sharper beef trade as numbers tighten as lamb prices rise
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