The drought stifled the live trade in most areas over the summer months, but with higher grass growth rates across the country, many farmers have ventured back buying stock once again. The cattle being met with the greatest improvement have been forward stores over 500kg, with lighter stores and weanlings not being met with the same increase in demand.
Another driving force behind the increase in demand for forward cattle has been the low supply of numbers across the country, with some mart managers expecting the supply of forward store cattle to be tight right through the autumn. Some feedlot buyers and agents have been most active for better-quality types over 550kg. Lighter stores from 400kg to 500kg have been a steady trade, with a slight increase in demand for better quality types. The weanling trade has not been too exciting. Where special sales are taking place, exporters and feeders have been active for select stock, but farmer demand is still below the same time last year. Plain and dairy-cross weanlings remain a difficult trade.
Steers
Short-keep steers and factory-fit stock are the best trade at the moment, with those over 600kg seeing the largest improvement in prices. The average 600kg bullock is making €2.04/kg, while in stronger suckler areas where the quality of stock is higher, prices of €2.15/kg to €2.20/kg for R grades is more common. U grades are selling from €1,450 to €1,600 depending on the weight. Stores sold from €1,050 to €1,200 depending on weight and quality. Lighter stores from 400kg to 500kg are a steady trade on last week.
Heifers
Heifers have seen a similar increase in prices to steers. With less of a dairy influence, the average prices are running almost 10c/kg higher than the average store bullock. Those over 600kg are as scarce as hens teeth, but those from 500kg to 600kg are selling mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg for average quality types and up to €2.40/kg for U grades. Lighter store heifers are a little better than the equivalent store bullock with prices ranging from €2.05/kg to €2.20/kg and up to €2.50/kg at the top of the market.
Weanlings
Special sales are seeing an improved trade, especially for heavy bulls, with more feeder demand in the marketplace than in previous weeks. Heavy bulls over 450kg are a steady trade with prices averaging 2.05/kg. However, where R+ and U grade bulls are on offer and suitable for feeding, prices of €2.30/kg to €2.45/kg are common. Weanling bulls from 300kg to 400kg are steady where the quality on offer is good, but plain bulls are an easier trade as the level of exporter demand is low so far.
Read more
Heavy bullocks and heifers a strong trade but plainer cattle a hard sell
Price gap widening between top and lesser-quality weanlings
More bite for lambs in Kilkenny mart
Breeding hoggets sell to £205 at Ballymena
Tighter numbers put some life into trade
The drought stifled the live trade in most areas over the summer months, but with higher grass growth rates across the country, many farmers have ventured back buying stock once again. The cattle being met with the greatest improvement have been forward stores over 500kg, with lighter stores and weanlings not being met with the same increase in demand.
Another driving force behind the increase in demand for forward cattle has been the low supply of numbers across the country, with some mart managers expecting the supply of forward store cattle to be tight right through the autumn. Some feedlot buyers and agents have been most active for better-quality types over 550kg. Lighter stores from 400kg to 500kg have been a steady trade, with a slight increase in demand for better quality types. The weanling trade has not been too exciting. Where special sales are taking place, exporters and feeders have been active for select stock, but farmer demand is still below the same time last year. Plain and dairy-cross weanlings remain a difficult trade.
Steers
Short-keep steers and factory-fit stock are the best trade at the moment, with those over 600kg seeing the largest improvement in prices. The average 600kg bullock is making €2.04/kg, while in stronger suckler areas where the quality of stock is higher, prices of €2.15/kg to €2.20/kg for R grades is more common. U grades are selling from €1,450 to €1,600 depending on the weight. Stores sold from €1,050 to €1,200 depending on weight and quality. Lighter stores from 400kg to 500kg are a steady trade on last week.
Heifers
Heifers have seen a similar increase in prices to steers. With less of a dairy influence, the average prices are running almost 10c/kg higher than the average store bullock. Those over 600kg are as scarce as hens teeth, but those from 500kg to 600kg are selling mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg for average quality types and up to €2.40/kg for U grades. Lighter store heifers are a little better than the equivalent store bullock with prices ranging from €2.05/kg to €2.20/kg and up to €2.50/kg at the top of the market.
Weanlings
Special sales are seeing an improved trade, especially for heavy bulls, with more feeder demand in the marketplace than in previous weeks. Heavy bulls over 450kg are a steady trade with prices averaging 2.05/kg. However, where R+ and U grade bulls are on offer and suitable for feeding, prices of €2.30/kg to €2.45/kg are common. Weanling bulls from 300kg to 400kg are steady where the quality on offer is good, but plain bulls are an easier trade as the level of exporter demand is low so far.
Read more
Heavy bullocks and heifers a strong trade but plainer cattle a hard sell
Price gap widening between top and lesser-quality weanlings
More bite for lambs in Kilkenny mart
Breeding hoggets sell to £205 at Ballymena
Tighter numbers put some life into trade
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: