Castleisland Co Operative Livestock Mart in Co. Kerry hosted its weekly calf sale on Monday, February 19, with over 400 calves on offer. It’s weekly general cattle sale took place on Wednesday, February 21, with over 800 cattle on offer.
Speaking to Agriland on the two sales, mart manager Nelius McAuliffe said: “There is a strong trade all round” for both cattle and calves at the Co. Kerry mart venue.
He said: “Strong calves were a serious trade. The top-end of the calves were making from €450-510/head, with a top price in the sale paid for a Belgian Blue calf.
“The top prices were going to quality calves in the 65-70kg weight category. Hereford-cross bull calves made from €300-390 for the strong ones.
“The mid-range Hereford calves made from €200-300/head, and the lighter Hereford calves in the 50-52kg category made from €180-220/head.
“Friesian bull calves made as high as €285/head for super five-week-old 68kg ones that were sucking cows, while the mid-range Friesian calves made from €70-100/head and the poorer ones made from €20-50/head.”
He explained that the calf trade at the mart this week was driven primarily by farmers and calf dealers sourcing calves for farmers and the exporters were less active as calf sailings were cancelled this week.
The mart manager expects calf exporters to be active in the sale again on Monday, February 26.
He explained that calf numbers in the sale are expected to hit 1,800 head at peak and noted that calves “are maybe a week later” than last year to arrive at marts.
The mart manager expects 800-1,000 head of calves to be on offer at the mart next week and informed farmers that the calf sale will start at 9:30a.m. on Monday, February 26.
Wednesday cattle sale at Castleisland Mart
The general cattle sale on Wednesday, February 21, featured over 800 head of cattle with a total of 170 cull cows in the dry-cow sale.
He said: “Cows met a fine trade with good Friesian cows with flesh making up to the €2/kg mark while the continental cows were making €2.40-2.50/kg.
“Parlour cows weighing 600kg were making €900 or €1.50/kg.”
In the heifer sale, Angus heifers over 520kg were making from €2.70-2.90/kg while the 450kg heifers made from €2.60-2.75/kg.
The Hereford and Angus bullocks alike were described as being “a similar trade with the stores making up to €2.80/kg for 500kg Hereford store bullocks”.
“There was a good share of continental cattle with a 600kg bullock making €1,920 or €3.15/kg.
“The yearling Angus cattle made from €2.80-3.00/kg and the yearling Herefords were much the same, with a 280kg Hereford bullock making €830.
He explained that the farmers are currently driving the trade in most categories, but added that the Angus cattle over 4500kg are mainly being picked up by larger feedlots.
He added that exporters are currently active at Castleisland Mart for heavy bulls weighing 600kg and over.