The mart trade in the past week has remained mixed. The numbers on offer are very low, with mart managers right across the country commenting that the sales season remains in its quietest period.
With small numbers on offer, the trade is very variable, to say the least. However, better-quality continental cattle, and in particular stores, are still a good trade.
While feedlot buyer activity is still low, as numbers increase into the autumn demand should pick up quickly. Plain-quality cattle, dairy-crosses and light dairy-crosses are a difficult trade and a slower sell.
The worst cattle affected are light poor-quality weanlings and dairy-cross weanling bulls and heifers.
However, there are signs of an increase in supply coming, with the onset of special autumn weanling sales. These sales are starting positively for good bulls, with specialist finishers and live exporters active.
Suckler cows with calves at foot and in-calf cows are still a strong trade where good-quality types are on offer.
Steers
Heavy store bullocks have seen prices rebound a little in the past week or two, but average prices are still back by about 10c to 15c/kg on the same time last year. Where top-quality bullocks are on offer, prices are not back by quite as much. The average 650kg steer is making €1,240 per head on average. The top third are making about 25c/kg more than that. Forward store bullocks from 500kg to 600kg are still a difficult trade, with a large proportion of plainer-quality types depressing average prices.
Heifers
Fleshed heifers are still scarce and are selling from €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg for average-quality types and up to €2.35/kg for top-quality types. Forward store heifers are selling for about 10c/kg more than the equivalent bullock, mainly due to less dairy influence. The average 550kg heifer is making €1,130/head. Lighter stores have seen a slight improvement in prices, but they still lag about 20c/kg behind the same time last year. The average 450kg heifer is selling for €920/head. The top third are steady on last week, selling for €2.37/kg on average.
Weanlings
Better-quality weanling bulls are still quite a good trade, but plainer types are still suffering poor prices. Heavy bulls suitable for feeding are being snapped up where they are on offer, generally at prices of €2.10/kg to €2.40/kg, with some higher prices being paid for well-muscled bulls. The average 350kg weanling is making €745/head, back almost €100/head on the same time last year. Heifers have seen a slight improvement in price on last week, but, again, it’s the better-quality types that are the best trade.
Read more
Camera at the mart: solid demand for weanlings at Enniskillen Mart
Camera at the mart: steady start to breeding sale at Tullow
Camera at the mart: strong demand for ewe lambs and breeders
Northern view: beef quotes steady after recent falls
Camera at the mart: positive lift in lamb trade at Carndonagh Mart
The mart trade in the past week has remained mixed. The numbers on offer are very low, with mart managers right across the country commenting that the sales season remains in its quietest period.
With small numbers on offer, the trade is very variable, to say the least. However, better-quality continental cattle, and in particular stores, are still a good trade.
While feedlot buyer activity is still low, as numbers increase into the autumn demand should pick up quickly. Plain-quality cattle, dairy-crosses and light dairy-crosses are a difficult trade and a slower sell.
The worst cattle affected are light poor-quality weanlings and dairy-cross weanling bulls and heifers.
However, there are signs of an increase in supply coming, with the onset of special autumn weanling sales. These sales are starting positively for good bulls, with specialist finishers and live exporters active.
Suckler cows with calves at foot and in-calf cows are still a strong trade where good-quality types are on offer.
Steers
Heavy store bullocks have seen prices rebound a little in the past week or two, but average prices are still back by about 10c to 15c/kg on the same time last year. Where top-quality bullocks are on offer, prices are not back by quite as much. The average 650kg steer is making €1,240 per head on average. The top third are making about 25c/kg more than that. Forward store bullocks from 500kg to 600kg are still a difficult trade, with a large proportion of plainer-quality types depressing average prices.
Heifers
Fleshed heifers are still scarce and are selling from €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg for average-quality types and up to €2.35/kg for top-quality types. Forward store heifers are selling for about 10c/kg more than the equivalent bullock, mainly due to less dairy influence. The average 550kg heifer is making €1,130/head. Lighter stores have seen a slight improvement in prices, but they still lag about 20c/kg behind the same time last year. The average 450kg heifer is selling for €920/head. The top third are steady on last week, selling for €2.37/kg on average.
Weanlings
Better-quality weanling bulls are still quite a good trade, but plainer types are still suffering poor prices. Heavy bulls suitable for feeding are being snapped up where they are on offer, generally at prices of €2.10/kg to €2.40/kg, with some higher prices being paid for well-muscled bulls. The average 350kg weanling is making €745/head, back almost €100/head on the same time last year. Heifers have seen a slight improvement in price on last week, but, again, it’s the better-quality types that are the best trade.
Read more
Camera at the mart: solid demand for weanlings at Enniskillen Mart
Camera at the mart: steady start to breeding sale at Tullow
Camera at the mart: strong demand for ewe lambs and breeders
Northern view: beef quotes steady after recent falls
Camera at the mart: positive lift in lamb trade at Carndonagh Mart
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