The shortage of grass and bad weather impacted on the trade for plainer cattle in Balla Mart on Saturday, according to the Mart’s Anthony Murphy.

Murphy said that approximately 1,100 cattle passed through the ring, with good cattle trading well, but plainer cattle were harder to sell.

He also said that there was a smaller number of store steers on offer, with these lots trading from €1.82-3.47/kg or €600-1,000 over. 

However, the heavier steers met with a better trade and sold from €1.66-3.05/kg.

Sample steer prices:
  • Limousin: 285kg – €990 or €3.47/kg
  • Charolais: 365kg – €1,110 or €3.04/kg
  • Limousin: 470kg – €1,330 or €2.83/kg
  • Charolais: 655kg – €1,630 or €2.49/kg
  • Charolais: 750kg – €1,745 or €2.33/kg

There was also 390 heifers on offer in the heifer ring, with store heifers trading from €600-800 over or €1.64-3.03/kg, while forward heifers traded from €1.82-2.77/kg.

Murphy also said there were 150 cows on offer, with dry cows selling from €1.36-2.30/kg.

Kilkenny Mart

Like Balla Mart, the trade for plain cattle and especially for Friesians was more difficult in Kilkenny Mart, Cillin Hill on Friday, according to the Mart’s Auctioneer George Candler.

Candler said that the shortage of grass due to the unseasonal cold weather is the main reason for the drop in the prices paid for plain store cattle.

He also said the quality of cattle on offer had dropped compared to the previous week.

Forward steers in the Kilkenny venue trade from €2.00-2.40/kg, lots weighing 400-600kg made €1.80-2.75/kg and the lighter store steers (<400kg) sold from €1.70-2.85/kg.

However, despite the ease in the store steer trade, Candler said that heifers and cull cows met with a lively trade.

Beef heifers sold from €2.00-2.50/kg, forward store heifers traded from €2.00-2.65/kg, while the lighter store heifers made €1.80-3.00/kg.

Friesian cull cows in the Kilkenny venue made €1.00-1.80/kg, while continental culls sold from €1.40-2.06/kg.

Sample heifer prices:
  • Angus: 370kg – €770 or €2.08/kg
  • Charolais: 340kg – €1,010 or €2.97/kg
  • Hereford: 295kg – €670 or €2.27/kg
  • Angus: 480kg – €1,070 or €2.23/kg
  • Limousin: 470kg – €1,095 or €2.33/kg
  • Charolais: 660kg – €1,450 or €2.20/kg

Mountbellew Mart

However, unlike Balla and Kilkenny Mart, there was increased farmer demand for steers in Mountbellew Mart on Friday, according to the Mart Manager Marianne Higgins.

Higgins said that the prices held firm for all of the cattle on offer, with steers selling from €2.00-2.89/kg, while the heifers on offer traded from €1.98-2.37/kg.

Weanling prices also remained quite similar to last week, with weanling bulls selling from €2.09-2.54/kg, while similar type heifers made €2.33-2.97/kg.

Sample weanling prices:
  • Charolais bull: 375kg – €950 or €2.53/kg
  • Limousin bull: 370kg – €930 or €2.51/kg
  • Limousin bull: 440kg – €1,060 or €2.41/kg
  • Angus bull: 455kg – €950 or €2.09/kg
  • Limousin heifer: 365kg – €900 or €2.47/kg
  • Charolais heifer: 300kg – €890 or €2.97/kg
  • Charolais heifer: 430kg – €1,000 or €2.33/kg
  • Limousin heifer: 340kg – €880 or €2.59/kg