With mart sales at the seasonal low right across the country, the trade for better-quality continental cattle is holding firm, while plainer dairy-crosses continue to be met with a weaker trade, particularly where weights are low.
The best demand is for good-quality well-conformed continental forward bullocks, heifers and bulls, with Angus and Hereford types a little easier where the quality is poor.
Steady export demand is continuing to have a positive impact on prices of light weanlings and some better-quality well-muscled types, keeping a firm floor under the trade.
The cull cow trade has held fairly well for short-keep types, while lesser-quality feeding cow prices are coming under a little more pressure.
With continued beef price pressure in the past week, this may result in a slight slippage of price for all types.
Where good-quality in-calf and calved suckler cows are on offer, the trade is said to be firm, with farmer buyers paying from €1,400 to €1,800 for good-quality types. Plain and old cow and calf units are selling mainly from €1,000 to €1,300.
Steers
Steers over 600kg are very low, but prices average at 2.00/kg to €2.10/kg, with U grades over €2.30/kg. While prices are holding well, there is a greater focus on in-spec stock, with less demand for over-aged stock. Forward stores from 500kg to 600kg are selling from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg for average-quality bullocks and up to €2.45/kg for U grades. Angus and Herefords with a dairy background are selling from €1.80/kg to €2.00/kg. Light stores from 400kg to 500kg are selling from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg for average-quality types.
Heifers
Like bullocks, heavy heifers over 600kg are very scarce. Those from 500kg to 600kg are selling mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg on average. This is up on last week, due mainly to better-quality heifers on offer. Lighter store heifers from 400kg to 500kg are a steady trade where good-quality continentals are on offer. The average 450kg heifer is making €975/head, with U grades making closer to €1,100/head. Where plain dairy-cross light store heifers are on offer, prices are a little easier, with only mixed demand for these at marts.
Weanlings
Light dairy runners under 350kg are bearing the brunt of pressure, with very weak demand at marts in the south. Where they are coming out, prices of €1.40/kg to €1.60/kg are common. The average Charolais- or Limousin-cross 350kg bull is making €790/head, with better-quality types receiving a premium of about €150/head. Demand for average-quality light bulls is being underpinned by strong exporter demand. The trade for weanling heifers is similar, with better-quality types met with strong demand. Prices are on par with bulls.
Read more
Camera at the mart: quality cattle holding steady at Ballymena Mart
Camera at the mart: exporters keeping a floor under light weanlings and calves
Camera at the mart: factory lambs a good trade but store demand worrying
Northern view: fewer price deals as cattle trade slows
With mart sales at the seasonal low right across the country, the trade for better-quality continental cattle is holding firm, while plainer dairy-crosses continue to be met with a weaker trade, particularly where weights are low.
The best demand is for good-quality well-conformed continental forward bullocks, heifers and bulls, with Angus and Hereford types a little easier where the quality is poor.
Steady export demand is continuing to have a positive impact on prices of light weanlings and some better-quality well-muscled types, keeping a firm floor under the trade.
The cull cow trade has held fairly well for short-keep types, while lesser-quality feeding cow prices are coming under a little more pressure.
With continued beef price pressure in the past week, this may result in a slight slippage of price for all types.
Where good-quality in-calf and calved suckler cows are on offer, the trade is said to be firm, with farmer buyers paying from €1,400 to €1,800 for good-quality types. Plain and old cow and calf units are selling mainly from €1,000 to €1,300.
Steers
Steers over 600kg are very low, but prices average at 2.00/kg to €2.10/kg, with U grades over €2.30/kg. While prices are holding well, there is a greater focus on in-spec stock, with less demand for over-aged stock. Forward stores from 500kg to 600kg are selling from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg for average-quality bullocks and up to €2.45/kg for U grades. Angus and Herefords with a dairy background are selling from €1.80/kg to €2.00/kg. Light stores from 400kg to 500kg are selling from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg for average-quality types.
Heifers
Like bullocks, heavy heifers over 600kg are very scarce. Those from 500kg to 600kg are selling mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg on average. This is up on last week, due mainly to better-quality heifers on offer. Lighter store heifers from 400kg to 500kg are a steady trade where good-quality continentals are on offer. The average 450kg heifer is making €975/head, with U grades making closer to €1,100/head. Where plain dairy-cross light store heifers are on offer, prices are a little easier, with only mixed demand for these at marts.
Weanlings
Light dairy runners under 350kg are bearing the brunt of pressure, with very weak demand at marts in the south. Where they are coming out, prices of €1.40/kg to €1.60/kg are common. The average Charolais- or Limousin-cross 350kg bull is making €790/head, with better-quality types receiving a premium of about €150/head. Demand for average-quality light bulls is being underpinned by strong exporter demand. The trade for weanling heifers is similar, with better-quality types met with strong demand. Prices are on par with bulls.
Read more
Camera at the mart: quality cattle holding steady at Ballymena Mart
Camera at the mart: exporters keeping a floor under light weanlings and calves
Camera at the mart: factory lambs a good trade but store demand worrying
Northern view: fewer price deals as cattle trade slows
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