Last Friday, the Irish Farmers Journal was in Tullow Mart for its weekly general cattle sale, which was one of the last fully online sales before bidders returned ringside on Monday.
Speaking after the sale, Tullow manager Eric Driver said: “We had a good lively trade this week. It’s a final farewell to fully online bidding and that brings a bit of nerves.
“There is a good honest trade for beef at the moment and I can’t see trade get much better, but it could fall back.”
High clearance rate
Friday’s sale attracted over 400 cattle, with all but three animals finding a new home to represent a clearance rate of over 99%.
These numbers would be slightly up on what’s usually seen for the month of May, with Eric saying he's seeing a few more coming back to sell in the mart instead of doing deals at home.
Store bullocks that exceeded the 450kg mark were in high demand, with €2.20/kg readily available and €2.50/kg for better types.
There was a few sold either side of these prices, but that was more the exception than the rule.
Bullocks under the 450kg mark sold for €2.30kg to €2.70/kg, again with a few very top lots exceeding this.
Stock of choice
Angus and Hereford were again the stock of choice for factory agents, with prices starting at €2/kg for first-cross dairy beef animals.
These saw highs of €2.20/kg, but generally the upper end of lots sold for between €2.10/kg and €2.15/kg.
Light bull weanlings were lighter on the ground than previous weeks, but those present were met with a ready trade, selling up to €3/kg. However, these generally started at €2.60/kg.
Heavier bulls with age but still in-spec started at €2.20/kg, with highs of around €2.35/kg.
Factory-fit cull cows
A good entry of factory-fit dairy cull cows were met with a very strong trade, selling for over €1.70/kg on some occasions.
Continental culls started at €1.80/kg and rose past the €2/kg mark for better-quality younger cows.
Cows with young calves at foot sold up to €2,100 per unit, with prices down to €1,200 to €1,500 for traditional-bred stock or cows with age.
This two-year-old Friesian heifer weighed 600kg and sold for €1,100 (€1.83/kg).
This pair of June 2020-born Charolais bullocks had an average weight of 315kg and sold for €790 (€2.51/kg).
This May 2020-born Limousin bullock weighed 470kg and sold for €1,180 (€2.51/kg).
These four yearling Limousin bullocks weighed 420kg each and sold for €1,120 (€2.67/kg).
These three Angus heifers weighed on average 387kg and sold for €820 (€2.12/kg).
This 450kg Simmental bullock, born January 2020, sold for €950 (€2.11/kg).
This January 2020-born Simmental bull weighed 720kg and sold for €1,690 (€2.35/kg).
This nine-year-old Friesian cow weighed 830kg and sold for €1,300 (€1.57/kg).
This eight-year-old Friesian cow weighed 710kg and sold for €1,090 (€1.54/kg).
This three-year-old Friesian cow weighed 665kg and sold for €1,160 (€1.75/kg).
This seven-year-old Friesian cow weighed 830kg and sold for €1,370 (€1.65/kg).
Last Friday, the Irish Farmers Journal was in Tullow Mart for its weekly general cattle sale, which was one of the last fully online sales before bidders returned ringside on Monday.
Speaking after the sale, Tullow manager Eric Driver said: “We had a good lively trade this week. It’s a final farewell to fully online bidding and that brings a bit of nerves.
“There is a good honest trade for beef at the moment and I can’t see trade get much better, but it could fall back.”
High clearance rate
Friday’s sale attracted over 400 cattle, with all but three animals finding a new home to represent a clearance rate of over 99%.
These numbers would be slightly up on what’s usually seen for the month of May, with Eric saying he's seeing a few more coming back to sell in the mart instead of doing deals at home.
Store bullocks that exceeded the 450kg mark were in high demand, with €2.20/kg readily available and €2.50/kg for better types.
There was a few sold either side of these prices, but that was more the exception than the rule.
Bullocks under the 450kg mark sold for €2.30kg to €2.70/kg, again with a few very top lots exceeding this.
Stock of choice
Angus and Hereford were again the stock of choice for factory agents, with prices starting at €2/kg for first-cross dairy beef animals.
These saw highs of €2.20/kg, but generally the upper end of lots sold for between €2.10/kg and €2.15/kg.
Light bull weanlings were lighter on the ground than previous weeks, but those present were met with a ready trade, selling up to €3/kg. However, these generally started at €2.60/kg.
Heavier bulls with age but still in-spec started at €2.20/kg, with highs of around €2.35/kg.
Factory-fit cull cows
A good entry of factory-fit dairy cull cows were met with a very strong trade, selling for over €1.70/kg on some occasions.
Continental culls started at €1.80/kg and rose past the €2/kg mark for better-quality younger cows.
Cows with young calves at foot sold up to €2,100 per unit, with prices down to €1,200 to €1,500 for traditional-bred stock or cows with age.
This two-year-old Friesian heifer weighed 600kg and sold for €1,100 (€1.83/kg).
This pair of June 2020-born Charolais bullocks had an average weight of 315kg and sold for €790 (€2.51/kg).
This May 2020-born Limousin bullock weighed 470kg and sold for €1,180 (€2.51/kg).
These four yearling Limousin bullocks weighed 420kg each and sold for €1,120 (€2.67/kg).
These three Angus heifers weighed on average 387kg and sold for €820 (€2.12/kg).
This 450kg Simmental bullock, born January 2020, sold for €950 (€2.11/kg).
This January 2020-born Simmental bull weighed 720kg and sold for €1,690 (€2.35/kg).
This nine-year-old Friesian cow weighed 830kg and sold for €1,300 (€1.57/kg).
This eight-year-old Friesian cow weighed 710kg and sold for €1,090 (€1.54/kg).
This three-year-old Friesian cow weighed 665kg and sold for €1,160 (€1.75/kg).
This seven-year-old Friesian cow weighed 830kg and sold for €1,370 (€1.65/kg).
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