In this week’s mart report, we take a look at last week’s trade for cattle in Carnew, Tullamore and Raphoe Marts.

Some marts around the country recorded that sale entries for last week were down on the previous week, with Level 5 restrictions suggested to be a contributing factor to these decreasing numbers.

However, the trade seemed to have benefited from these low numbers, with store cattle still in high demand.

Carnew Mart

Carnew Mart hosted its weekly weanling sale last Wednesday (October 28), of which 130 heifers and 320 bulls were on offer. Commenting on the trade for weanlings, a mart spokesperson stated: “They were met with an excellent selling trade, with strong demand for all types.”

Exporter activity was also noted for lighter weighing, continental-type, bull weanlings.

The mart also held a sale of cows on Friday (October 30) with almost 220 animals on offer. The majority of the cattle were store-type Friesian-bred cows. A mart spokesperson stated: “The trade was similar to last week with plenty of customers for all classes [of cows].”

Heavy continental-bred cull cows sold between €1.55/kg to €1.82/kg, while the more store-type continental cows traded from €1.31/kg to €1.78/kg. Friesian-bred cull cows, close to finishing, sold from €1.22/kg to €1.41/kg. Friesian store cows sold from €0.75/kg to €1.35/kg.

Tullamore Mart

Tullamore Mart hosted a total of 380 cattle last Thursday, October 29, at its weekly sale. The sale was held with a total of 110 online bidders registered for purchasing on the day. These buyers aided the 94% clearance rate achieved at the sale.

Antoinette Daly, the mart’s manager, stated: “Trade for some heifers were up on average between €70/head to €100/head on the week before, with bullocks selling at €50/head more than the previous week.”

However, numbers of animals brought forward for sale last week were said to be “down around 20% on the previous week”, according to Antoinette.

Steers weighing between 300kg and 435kg achieved prices ranging from €1.80/kg to €2.45/kg.

While slightly heavier store bullocks, weighing between 435kg to 500kg, sold at range of €1.90/kg to €2.50/kg.

A good trade was recorded for bullocks weighing between 500kg to 600kg, with prices from €2.00/kg to €2.47/kg being achieved.

Heifers weighing between 300kg to 435kg traded from €1.80/kg to €2.38/kg.

The slightly heavier store heifers, weighing between 435kg to 500kg, saw prices range from €1.80/kg to €2.35/kg.

Store heifers (weighing between 500kg to 600kg) sold at a range of €1.80/kg to €2.62/kg.

Raphoe Mart

Raphoe Mart held its weekly cattle sale last Thursday (October 29). Ann Harkin, the mart’s manager, explained: “The trade was lively from start to finish for all cattle, with quality stock remaining highly sought after.”

Bulls and steers traded at prices ranging from €1.80/kg to €2.40/kg. Heifers sold from €1.90/kg to €2.60/kg, while cull cows were traded from €500/head to €1,280/head.

Angus-bred cattle had met a “good demand amongst buyers”, according to Ann.