The past week has seen a lot more activity around mart rings, with numbers on offer increasing, but so too has demand, with farmer buyers much more active in the marketplace.
Forward-store cattle and feeding cows have seen a good lift in demand and in prices in recent weeks due to a much more positive long-term outlook from farmers.
Short-keep cattle have seen a good improvement in prices, suitable for finishing in the coming months.
The weanling trade has showed some promise in the last week also, with strong farmer demand for all types.
The cow trade has held steady on last week, with increased numbers now coming to the fore.
Friesian cows are selling mainly from €1.00/kg to €1.10/kg, with some carrying more flesh selling to over €1.20/kg.
Continental cull cows are a strong trade.
Feeding cows are selling mainly from €1.50/kg to €1.65/kg, with fleshed cows selling mainly from €1.70/kg to €1.80/kg, with the odd well-muscled fat young cow making over €1.90/kg.
Steers
The bullock trade has seen an improvement in the last week, with more cattle coming out and plenty of farmer buyers present to buy them. Heavy bullocks over 600kg have seen a slight increase, with prices averaging at €1.90/kg. In some sales, top-quality types are selling for over €2.20/kg. Forward stores from 500kg to 600kg have seen prices strengthen also, with average-quality types trading for €2.15/kg in stronger suckler areas. Light stores are selling for just over €2.00/kg for average types, with U grades selling for over €2.40/kg.
Heifers
Heifer numbers are still slower to come out than bullocks, but where quality is on offer, prices are increasing. Mart managers are reporting that heifers are easier and quicker to sell than they were last month. Forward heifers over 500kg are selling from €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg for continentals. Where plainer-quality types are on offer, prices are not as strong. The top third are selling from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg. Light heifers from 400kg to 500kg are selling mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg and to over €2.45/kg for top-quality light heifers.
Weanlings
Weanling bulls have seen a strong increase in prices in the past week. However, numbers on offer are still low. The best demand is for bulls from 300kg to 400kg. These are selling mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg, with the top third in terms of quality selling from €2.60/kg to €2.70/kg in some areas. Light bulls from 200kg to 300kg are selling for close to €2.30/kg on average, with the top third breaching €3.00/kg at some sales. Heifers have seen prices increase also, with quality continentals being met with strong demand.
Read more
Camera at the Mart: cows sell to top of €2,680 at Roscrea fatstock
Camera at the mart: factory agents very active at Loughrea sheep sale
Camera at the mart: improved cattle trade at Enniskillen
NI trends: cattle quotes holding steady but hogget prices rising
The past week has seen a lot more activity around mart rings, with numbers on offer increasing, but so too has demand, with farmer buyers much more active in the marketplace.
Forward-store cattle and feeding cows have seen a good lift in demand and in prices in recent weeks due to a much more positive long-term outlook from farmers.
Short-keep cattle have seen a good improvement in prices, suitable for finishing in the coming months.
The weanling trade has showed some promise in the last week also, with strong farmer demand for all types.
The cow trade has held steady on last week, with increased numbers now coming to the fore.
Friesian cows are selling mainly from €1.00/kg to €1.10/kg, with some carrying more flesh selling to over €1.20/kg.
Continental cull cows are a strong trade.
Feeding cows are selling mainly from €1.50/kg to €1.65/kg, with fleshed cows selling mainly from €1.70/kg to €1.80/kg, with the odd well-muscled fat young cow making over €1.90/kg.
Steers
The bullock trade has seen an improvement in the last week, with more cattle coming out and plenty of farmer buyers present to buy them. Heavy bullocks over 600kg have seen a slight increase, with prices averaging at €1.90/kg. In some sales, top-quality types are selling for over €2.20/kg. Forward stores from 500kg to 600kg have seen prices strengthen also, with average-quality types trading for €2.15/kg in stronger suckler areas. Light stores are selling for just over €2.00/kg for average types, with U grades selling for over €2.40/kg.
Heifers
Heifer numbers are still slower to come out than bullocks, but where quality is on offer, prices are increasing. Mart managers are reporting that heifers are easier and quicker to sell than they were last month. Forward heifers over 500kg are selling from €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg for continentals. Where plainer-quality types are on offer, prices are not as strong. The top third are selling from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg. Light heifers from 400kg to 500kg are selling mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg and to over €2.45/kg for top-quality light heifers.
Weanlings
Weanling bulls have seen a strong increase in prices in the past week. However, numbers on offer are still low. The best demand is for bulls from 300kg to 400kg. These are selling mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg, with the top third in terms of quality selling from €2.60/kg to €2.70/kg in some areas. Light bulls from 200kg to 300kg are selling for close to €2.30/kg on average, with the top third breaching €3.00/kg at some sales. Heifers have seen prices increase also, with quality continentals being met with strong demand.
Read more
Camera at the Mart: cows sell to top of €2,680 at Roscrea fatstock
Camera at the mart: factory agents very active at Loughrea sheep sale
Camera at the mart: improved cattle trade at Enniskillen
NI trends: cattle quotes holding steady but hogget prices rising
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