Cattle marts: Trade for dry cows eases, as customers become cautious

The reports from mart managers last week concluded that there was a slight ease back in the demand for dry cows, as prices of over €2.00/kg were harder come by.

In the store trade, it was proving to be the more quality animals that were best sold, as plainer types took a hit. Good continental store bullocks and heifers were still averaging around the €2.30/kg mark.

Looking at the forward cattle, some mart managers were continuing to highlight a scarcity of these animals. Heavy continental bullocks were reported selling from €2.20/kg back to €2.05/kg, while heifers were sold at €2.05-2.15/kg.

Forward-type Angus and Hereford cattle were still reporting some high prices over €2.15/kg; however, they generally were selling from €2.05/kg back to €1.95/kg.

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

Castlerea Mart

There was a rise in numbers passed through the mart gates of Castlerea last week as it held its weekly sale on Thursday (February 4).

Commenting on the sale, the mart’s manager Brendan Egan stated: “The trade and prices for the quality stores remained strong.

“The heifer ring had a good number of quality stores on offer and noticed prices peak at €2.94/kg, while the bullocks peaked at €2.59/kg – with both rings having good clearances.”

There was a lot of store cows on offer this week, as Brendan reported that the trade for these was more or less unchanged from the previous week in the Roscommon-based mart.

The cows with calves at foot sold from €960/head up to €1,070/head. Meanwhile, springers were making from €900/head to €1,460/head.

When speaking about the sale of weanlings, Brendan said: “The trade was similar to last week.”

Ennis Mart

The trade for cattle was not quite as sharp as last week, according to Ennis Mart manager, Martin McNamara. The Clare mart hosted its weekly sale of dry cows and heifers on Thursday (February 4).

Martin went onto claim: “While there was still a lot of Northern activity, they were not driving on as hard as previous weeks.

The €2.00/kg was achieved a number of times in the cull cow ring, although it was harder reached on Thursday.

“There was a greater mix of both continentals and dairy-type stock today with cows, but all the dairy culls had a share of feeding and were in good order. Again, some great continental cows throughout the sale.”

The store heifer trade also had a slight set back, however, the quality and well fleshed heifers were commanding good prices – as Martin explained:

“The good heifers held a great trade, especially if they had flesh, but stores a slight shade easier today. The quality in the heifer ring was more mixed.”