Mart managers have reported smaller numbers passing through the rings across the country over recent days. However, trade is reported to have “held up well” with plenty of bidders for all types of cattle.
In some cases, an increased appetite for stores has seen an extra €20/head added to the price of quality animals. Similar to previous weeks, thin and plain cattle continue to be a weaker trade than better quality types.
Factory prices remain unchanged this week at 375c/kg for steers and 385c/kg for heifers. This comes as farmers with greater bargaining power ‘stick to their guns’ and hold out for the better prices.
Also Read: Beef stalemate continues between factories and farmersThe smaller numbers present at the marts may be down to the recent spell of good weather in some parts of the island. In addition, this should have a positive effect on prices both in the marts and in the factories.
Carnew Mart
Some 650 cattle went under the hammer in Carnew Mart, Co. Wicklow, on Saturday (November 4). It was reported that numbers were slightly down on the previous week’s sale.
David Quinn, the mart manager, said beef and quality stores were very much in demand with prices up by €20/head. However, plainer cattle met a similar trade to the week previous.
Store bullocks made €520-850 over, while Friesian steers sold for €170-610 along with their weight. Heifers were reported to trade well; stores made €320-740 over.
Beef cows fetched €450-840 over, while store cows made €150-840 over. Quinn said: “Cows with calves at foot traded between €1,000 and €1,550.”
- Limousin: 830kg – €1,540 or €1.85/kg;
- Limousin: 660kg – €1,390 or €2.10/kg;
- Friesian: 750kg – €1,050 or €1.40/kg;
- Charolais: 630kg – €1,130 or €1.79/kg.
Raphoe Mart
Last Thursday’s sale in Raphoe Mart, Co. Donegal, featured an “excellent” entry of cattle, according to the mart’s Anne Harkin.
She added: “An improved trade for all cattle with quality stock and plainer types all selling well.”
Top-class bulls weighing over 600kg sold at €600-1,015 over, the mart manager stated. Beef bullocks made €600-940 over and lighter stores made €2.00-2.70/kg.
Beef heifers made €520-1,050 over and store heifers traded at €350-700 over or €2.10-2.80/kg. Fat, well-fleshed cows traded for €500-1,790 head.
Scariff Mart
A large clearance was achieved in Scariff Mart on Saturday last. Farmers made their presence felt ringside and were the main drivers of price. There was also some exporter activity on the day.
According to the mart’s Danny Moran, light weanling bulls sold for €2.90/kg, while bulls weighing 315kg sold for €2.79/kg. Bulls weighing over 315kg fetched €2.46/kg.
In the heifer ring, light heifers sold for €2.90/kg and heifers weighing 300-400kg sold at €2.09/kg. On the day, cull cows traded for €1.39/kg-1.48/kg.
- Charolais heifer: 250kg – €725 or €2.90/kg;
- Charolais heifer: 440kg – €800 or €2.13/kg;
- Limousin heifer: 240kg – €720 or €3.00/kg;
- Charolais bull: 315kg – €880 or €2.79/kg;
- Charolais bull: 260kg – €755 or €2.90/kg;
- Limousin bull: 325kg – €800 or €2.46/kg.
Ennis Mart
A slightly smaller sale took place in Ennis Mart on Thursday last; over 950 animals went under the hammer. However, there was a hike in heifer numbers passing through the ring.
Danny Moran said: “Trade was similar to the previous week. Again – quality was to the fore.
Cattle showed the benefits of a fine week and looked well on Thursday.
- Charolais: 485kg – €1,250 or €2.58/kg;
- Limousin: 450kg – €1,245 or €2.77/kg;
- Limousin: 581kg – €1,360 or €2.34/kg;
- Hereford: 525kg – €1,110 or €2.11/kg.
He added: “The best trade was in the cow ring; there was a great trade for the beef cow compared to the feeder cow.”
The number of aged bulls passing through the ring on Thursday was down on previous weeks. However, the best of these made a top price of €1,560.
- Limousin: 487kg – €1,170 or €2.40/kg;
- Limousin: 610kg – €1,500 or €2.46/kg;
- Charolais: 480kg – €1,160 or €2.42/kg;
- Charolais: 546kg – €1,300 or €2.38/kg.
Balla Mart
Approximately 900 cattle were on offer at Saturday’s (November 4) sale in Balla Mart. The trade was strong and prices were a touch higher than last week for quality cattle.
The mart’s manager, Micheal Murphy, reported an increased demand; clearance rates were better than the previous week. The bullock trade was strong, with plenty of bidders for all types.
There was an improved trade at the sale. 500kg bullocks were a ‘rob’ due to the presence of additional buyers.
Store bullocks (up to 400kg) sold for an average price of €2.26/kg; the heavier lots (400-500kg) traded at €2.25/kg. Murphy added that 350 heifers were on offer and the light types made €2.19/kg.
In addition, some 180 cows went under the hammer last week and Murphy said there were some nice in-calf cows up for grabs.
The best of these, he said, was a May-2014 born Limousin cow. Accompanied by a Limousin bull calf, this pair sold for €2,340.