Cattle marts: Rise in prices for cows, while forward cattle are in demand

Last week, cull cows received a further rise in price according to mart managers, as buyers’ appetites grow. Highs of up to €2.24/kg were recorded for forward-type beef cows at Ennis Mart.

Other marts were reporting similar rises in young dry cow demands, as general prices for more forward-type continental cows ranged from €1.75/kg up to €2.08/kg. Rising quotes for quality cows in factories supported the demand last week.

In the store trade, it was business as usual last week. Some prices reported for continental store heifers weighing 400-500kg stated they were secured at €2.16-2.33/kg. Forward beef heifers were generally trading at €2.05/kg up to €2.15/kg.

In bullock trade, continental stores (over 500kg) were selling generally at €2.10/kg up to highs of €2.31/kg. More Angus and Hereford type store bullocks were selling at €1.85 up to €2.05/kg.

This week AgriLand takes a look at the recent sales of cattle in Balla and Castlerea Marts.

Balla Mart

Balla Mart re-opened its gates for the new year last Saturday (January 16) with 275 cattle being brought forward for sale.

Stephen Hannon, the mart’s manager, stated he was more than positive about the mart trade last Saturday. He said:

“If the trade continues what it was like on Saturday, it is going to be a good year for farmers. The demand outweighed the supply; we could have sold a lot more cattle that what we had.

“Forward beef cattle were the ones that shined at Saturday’s sale.

All the forward and fleshy beef cows, particularly the younger Limousin and Charolais cows, were selling up to and over €2.00/kg.

“If I take our bullock prices from the weekend and compare them to our last sale in 2020, the bullocks were up €180/head. If I look at the cows sold at Saturday’s sale, compared to cows with similar weights sold at our last sale in 2020, they were up €119/head on average,” Stephen added.

Bullocks weighing from 300 to 400kg were reported to average €2.17/kg. Meanwhile, slightly heavier stores (up to 500kg) sold at an average of €2.29/kg.

More forward-type store bullocks, over 500kg, were stated to average €2.17/kg.

In the heifer ring, there were over 70 lots on offer. Heifers weighing from 400 to 500kg were averaging €2.33/kg. Meanwhile, heavier females traded at an average of €2.28/kg.

Castlerea Mart

There were over 250 head of cattle on offer at Castlerea Mart last Thursday (January 14). The mart’s manager, Brendan Egan, stated:

“The trade started off very brightly, with all categories of stock in demand. Forward stock in particular has noticed price improvement since before Christmas.

“Forward bullocks made as high as €905 over their weight, while heifers made €890 over their weight.

“Breeding stock met with good demand, with increased numbers of stock on offer, resulting in a good clearance. Meanwhile, the dry cows also remained a firm trade.”

Speaking about calf prices on the day, Brendan added:

“Lots made from €190/head up to €240/head in the calf section – with runners making from €410/head up to €830/head for continental-type lots.”

The mart also recorded sales for cows with calves at foot ranging from €1,125 up to €1,200/head. Springers sold from €1,090 up to highs of €2,090/head.

Brendan stated: “In the weanling rings the bulls peaked at €3.30/kg, while a top price of €980 or €3.76/kg was achieved for a Simmental heifer weighing 260kg.”