The improvement in factory price quotes for dry cows is really gaining an edge on prices paid at marts over the past week.

Mart managers are noting improved hunger and bite to the trade - with more factory agents competing with northern clients to nudge prices over the €2.00/kg mark.

Again, this is leaving farmers that have dry cows to sell, with the option to head for the mart ring - especially if they think their cows are in a store condition and need that extra bit of feeding.

This week, Agriland takes a look at recent sales held at Carnew and Dowra Marts.

On Friday (April 16), 205 dry cows hit the rings at Carnew Mart, with the trade strengthening from the sale held the week before.

Commenting on the sale, manager, David Quinn, stated:

On Saturday, there were 957 cattle, consisting of heifers, bullocks and bulls at Carnew Mart.

David stated: "Beef cattle were up €40-60/head on last week, with all factory agents, feedlots and northern buyers very active."

Adding to his comments, David stated:

"A top price of €2,070 [€2.71/kg] was paid for a Charolais bullock 762kgs - while a 730kg continental-bred heifer sold to €1,920 [or €2.63/kg]."

The number of cattle brought forward to Dowra Mart on Saturday (April 17) reached 890 head - with prices improving for the dry cow categories.

Speaking about the sale on Saturday, Terry McGovern, the mart's manager highlighted:

"There was a super entry of heavy dry cows and these females met a very strong trade. The store dry cows were also very dear this week."

From viewing some of the sample prices below, the €2.00/kg was passed on a number of occasions, as Terry rightly stated, for both the store and heavy dry cows.

Turning to the weanling trade, Terry noted that some of the weanlings that were slow to catch the eye met a tougher trade. He said:

"The trade was very strong for the fancy lots of both bull and heifer weanlings - some of the plainer lots and the heavy bull weanlings proved harder sold."