The mart trade has continued to power on in the past week, despite poor weather conditions. Store cattle, short keep types and weanlings continue to be met with very strong demand right across the country, with farmer buyers the most active for all types.
The cull cow trade is still holding quite strong, although some marts are reporting a slight slippage in the prices paid for store cows.
At the top of the market, there are still some sales of good-quality U grade cows where prices are hitting the €2.00/kg mark.
The majority of continental feeding cows are selling from €1.60/kg to €1.70/kg, with some short-keep types making over €1.75/kg. Friesian cow numbers are dropping and prices are still running from €1.10/kg to €1.30/kg and up to €1.50/kg for well-fleshed cows.
Calved continental cows are a strong trade where good-quality young types are on offer.
However, for plainer lots, or where old cows are on offer, demand is mixed and clearance rates are much lower.
Steers
Bullock prices have edged up slightly again, with heavy types over 600kg running slightly higher than the same time last year. The average 600kg bullock is selling for €2.08/kg or €1,250/head with U grades making over €1,400/head. Forward store bullocks from 500kg to 600kg are selling from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg for average-quality types and up to €2.40/kg for U grades. Average prices in this weight range are still behind the same time last year. Lighter store bullocks from 400kg to 500kg are selling from €2.10/kg to €2.30.
Heifers
The heifer trade is slightly stronger than the bullock trade. Heifers from 500kg to 600kg are selling mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.15/kg and up to €2.30/kg with ease for U grades. Angus types are selling for close to €2.00/kg or slightly under it. Store heifers from 400kg to 500kg are a steady trade, with prices averaging from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg and up to €2.50/kg in some areas for U grades. Average prices are running just slightly behind the same time last year, but heavier heifer prices are on par with last year.
Weanlings
While average weanling prices have dropped in the past week, this is due to a number of special weanling sales taking place in recent weeks, and these sales now ending. Mart managers are reporting a very strong trade for all good-quality weanlings, with bulls an exceptional trade in some areas. Export activity is low, as farmer demand is outstripping exporters’ in many sales. The average 350kg weanling bull is making €2.25/kg, with heifers selling for 5c to 8c/kg more than this. The top third are selling from €2.60/kg to €3.00/kg.
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Ringside Comment: strong store trade continues for stores
Camera at the Mart: improved weather adds more life to store trade in Tullamore
Camera at the Mart: middle-tier cattle notably strong in Roscrea
Camera at the Mart: farmers very active for quality weanling bulls
Camera at the Mart: fat cows in demand at Ballymena Mart
The mart trade has continued to power on in the past week, despite poor weather conditions. Store cattle, short keep types and weanlings continue to be met with very strong demand right across the country, with farmer buyers the most active for all types.
The cull cow trade is still holding quite strong, although some marts are reporting a slight slippage in the prices paid for store cows.
At the top of the market, there are still some sales of good-quality U grade cows where prices are hitting the €2.00/kg mark.
The majority of continental feeding cows are selling from €1.60/kg to €1.70/kg, with some short-keep types making over €1.75/kg. Friesian cow numbers are dropping and prices are still running from €1.10/kg to €1.30/kg and up to €1.50/kg for well-fleshed cows.
Calved continental cows are a strong trade where good-quality young types are on offer.
However, for plainer lots, or where old cows are on offer, demand is mixed and clearance rates are much lower.
Steers
Bullock prices have edged up slightly again, with heavy types over 600kg running slightly higher than the same time last year. The average 600kg bullock is selling for €2.08/kg or €1,250/head with U grades making over €1,400/head. Forward store bullocks from 500kg to 600kg are selling from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg for average-quality types and up to €2.40/kg for U grades. Average prices in this weight range are still behind the same time last year. Lighter store bullocks from 400kg to 500kg are selling from €2.10/kg to €2.30.
Heifers
The heifer trade is slightly stronger than the bullock trade. Heifers from 500kg to 600kg are selling mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.15/kg and up to €2.30/kg with ease for U grades. Angus types are selling for close to €2.00/kg or slightly under it. Store heifers from 400kg to 500kg are a steady trade, with prices averaging from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg and up to €2.50/kg in some areas for U grades. Average prices are running just slightly behind the same time last year, but heavier heifer prices are on par with last year.
Weanlings
While average weanling prices have dropped in the past week, this is due to a number of special weanling sales taking place in recent weeks, and these sales now ending. Mart managers are reporting a very strong trade for all good-quality weanlings, with bulls an exceptional trade in some areas. Export activity is low, as farmer demand is outstripping exporters’ in many sales. The average 350kg weanling bull is making €2.25/kg, with heifers selling for 5c to 8c/kg more than this. The top third are selling from €2.60/kg to €3.00/kg.
Read more
Ringside Comment: strong store trade continues for stores
Camera at the Mart: improved weather adds more life to store trade in Tullamore
Camera at the Mart: middle-tier cattle notably strong in Roscrea
Camera at the Mart: farmers very active for quality weanling bulls
Camera at the Mart: fat cows in demand at Ballymena Mart
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