Mart trade: Reduced demand for cattle, but quality still the main driver of price

Over the past number of days, some mart managers across the country have noted a reduced demand for cattle.

Well-known mart manager – George Candler – noted that many buyers have filled their orders for this winter due to the good weather conditions over the past number of weeks.

He also outlined that – at last Thursday’s sale at Kilkenny Mart – cattle were showing effects of the weather as the south-east had not received prolonged rain for many months.

However, deteriorating ground conditions will result in an increase in the number of cattle being marketed through the ring over the coming weeks.

Unsurprisingly, quality continental cattle were in strong demand and fetched the best prices; plainer and lighter cattle continue to be harder to get away. The weanling trade is holding firm – especially the quality lots on offer.

Carnew Mart

A large entry of 760 weanlings were on offer last Wednesday at Carnew Mart, Co. Wicklow, with a strong demand for quality lots reported.

In addition, exporters were reported to be in the market for E and U-grade types for the Italian market. It was noted that weanling bulls under 400kg made €560-1,110/head, while those over 400kg made €770-1,285/head.

Furthermore, weanling heifers under 400kg made €350-1,100/head and those over 400kg commanded a price of €730-1,350/head.

Castlerea Mart

A large number of cattle were presented for sale at Castlerea Mart on Thursday last. On the day, six in-calf continental cows with calves at foot fetched €2,920-4,160/unit. These lots averaged €3,441/unit.

The cows were due from March onwards and were in calf to a Charolais bull. Commenting on these lots, the mart’s manager Brendan Egan said: “These prices provided a confidence booster to the much battered suckler section.”

On Monday, November 5, 330 bullocks passed through the ring of the Roscommon-based venue. Quality lots were reported to be in demand, but plainer steers were a difficult sell.

Good clearances were reported from the heifer and cow ring, while there was increased farmer activity in the weanling section. Prices were reported to have hardened for the quality lots.

In addition, cows with calves at foot sold for €900-4,160/unit, while springers traded for €820-1,980/head. Young calves sold for €200-220/head, while runner lots made €300-755/head; these lots were continental types.

Kilkenny Mart

On Thursday last, there was a slightly smaller sale of cattle at Kilkenny Mart, with a more challenging trade reported for all types of cattle; plainer cattle were the most difficult to sell.

Beef heifers made €900-1,400/head or €1.80-2.30/kg. Forward store heifers sold for €850-1,095/head or €1.70-2.52/kg, while the lighter heifers (<400kg) made €480-960/head or €1.40-2.43/kg.

In the bullock ring, bullocks (<400kg) sold for €300-960/head or €1.20-2.46/kg, while the heavier lots (400-500kg) made €650-1,220/head or €1.40-2.57/kg.

Lots falling into the 500-600kg category sold for €760-1,360/head or €1.50-2.50/kg and lots weighing 600kg upwards made €880-1,480/head or €1.50-2.30/kg.

In the cow ring, Friesian cull cows sold for €0.70-1.50/kg and the continental types made €1.10-1.90/kg.

Raphoe Mart

The cattle trade at Raphoe Mart last week was reported to have been back slightly on previous weeks. It was noted that there was a strong demand for quality cattle, while plainer lots were a more challenging trade.

Beef bullocks made €600-795 over and beef heifers made €500 to €925 along with their weight.