While there is still a lot of doom and gloom around the country, the mart trade has exceeded expectations in the past week.

Numbers on offer have increased, but so too has quality, with a number of special weanling sales boosting the quality on offer at several marts.

Mart managers in general are reporting a steady trade across the board, despite the increasing numbers.

However, the trade for plainer-quality weanlings, light stores and in particular light Friesian bulls can only be described as poor, with light Friesian bulls selling from €1.20/kg to €1.40/kg, while some are moving at over €1.50/kg.

The cull cow trade has seen a good drop in numbers in the south, with suckler cull numbers holding reasonably well in the west and midlands. The trade is holding firm, with fleshed cows still a surprisingly strong trade considering where beef prices are. This is enticing farmers with fleshed cows to try the mart trade and sell them live.

Steers

MartWatch data shows steer prices to have improved, but this is more down to an improvement in the quality on offer. Numbers have increased across the country, as has demand. The average 600kg bullock is steady at €1.85/kg, with the tops making over €2.14/kg. Friesians are from €1.30/kg to €1.65/kg, depending on quality. Those from 500kg to 600kg are selling mainly from €1.90/kg to €2.00/kg for average-quality types. The average 450kg steer is making €880/head, some €40 to €50/head less than the same week last year.

Heifers

The heifer trade is mirroring the bullock trade. Mart managers have said there has been a little bit more bite around the ringside for good-quality heifers. Heifers from 500kg to 600kg are mainly around €2.00/kg, slightly higher than the equivalent bullock. The top third in the same weight range are from €2.10/kg to €2.25/kg. Lighter heifers from 400kg to 500kg are a similar trade to last week, with prices averaging at €2.00/kg with prices averaging up to €2.20/kg in stronger suckler areas. The top third are making from €920 to €1,150/head.

Weanlings

The weanling trade has seen average prices improve, mainly due to special sales. There is a lot of price variation across the country driven by stock quality. In stronger suckler areas, weanlings from 300kg to 400kg are selling from €2.15/kg to €2.25/kg, with top-quality types over €2.50/kg. However where there is a dairy influence, prices are averaging €1.40/kg to €1.60/kg. Weanling heifers are a little stronger than bulls with average prices running about 5c to 10c/kg higher. Heavy bulls over 450kg are a difficult trade, back by 20c/kg.

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