Cattle marts: Wet weather brings out numbers but quality lots remain in demand

The wet weather in recent days resulted in an increase in the number of cattle on offer in Castlerea Mart on Thursday, according to the Mart Manager Brendan Egan.

However, despite the increase in numbers, Egan said the trade was similar to previous weeks, with quality lots holding firm, while plainer lots were harder to sell.

There was also good demand for the weanlings on offer, he said, especially for the quality lots, which met with strong demand from both exporters and farmers.

Weanling bulls weighting 260-410kg sold from €2.44-3.57/kg, while the similar type heifers on offer traded from €2.86-3.00/kg.

Sample heifer prices:

Limousin: 415kg – €1,085 or €2.61/kg
Charolais: 420kg – €1,030 or €2.45/kg
Belgian Blue: 485kg – €1,295 or €2.67/kg
Limousin: 470kg – €1,200 or €2.55/kg
Belgian Blue: 600kg – €1,395 or €2.33/kg
Charolais: 565kg – €1,335 or €2.32/kg

There was also a number of cows on offer, with the top priced dry cow on the day selling for €1,500 or €1.86/kg and the in-calf lots made €880-1,330/head.

Ennis Mart

There was a full yard of steers, heifers and dry cows on offer in Ennis Mart on Thursday, according to the Mart’s Gerry Finnerty.

Finnerty said prices have eased somewhat in recent weeks, but the price for the quality store animal has almost been maintained.

He said that steer prices were generally back by €20/head compared to the week earlier, with light store lots trading from €1.89-2.71/kg and the heavier forward classes trading from €1.72-2.49/kg.

Sample store prices:

Friesian: 580kg – €1,000 or €1.72/kg
Limousin: 590kg – €1,350 or €2.28/kg
Charolais: 537kg – €1,340 or 2.49/kg
Limousin: 630kg – €1,440 or €2.28/kg
Charolais: 772kg – €1,600 or €2.07/kg

Despite the fall in steer prices, he said that the heifer and cow trade has remained firm with store heifers making €2.47-2.58/kg, the forward heifers traded at €1.82-2.37/kg, while the dry cows on offer sold from €1.37-2.16/kg.

Balla Mart

There was a lively cattle sale in Balla Mart on Saturday, with over 800 lots of cattle on over, the Mart’s Anthony Murphy has said.

Murphy said there was a good trade for the quality lots which were improved by approximately €80/head compared to the week before.

Store steers weighing around 450kg sold from €600-800 over or €1.56-3.03/kg, while the forward steers on offer traded at €1.42-2.85/kg.

The heifers on offer met a similar trade to last week, he said, with stores lots selling from €600-900 over €1.58-2.91/kg and the heavier beef heifers made from €1.63-3.29/kg.

Murphy also said there were 122 cows on offer, with the top price going to an eight year old Limousin cow with a Limousin calf at foot. This cow made €1,700, while the cull lots on offer sold from €1.02-2.19/kg.