Last week, marts across the country were still reporting that heavier store steers were still trading well and confidence amongst buyers was not faltering. According to reports, cull cow prices in some marts seemed to have taken a slight dip in the past week.

AgriLand highlights the trade for cattle at weekly sales hosted in Kilkenny, Ballymahon and Baltinglass Marts.

Kilkenny Mart

The trade for store bullocks last Thursday (November 5) in Kilkenny Mart was described as being “excellent”, according to the mart’s auctioneer, George Candler.

He explained: “Beef bullocks were in short supply, which could be an indication that supplies are drying up.”

The short supply may have aided the trade for the bullocks on offer as he stated: “Forward store bullocks received a top call of €2.45/kg. Light bullocks and heifers peaked at €2.40/kg.”

Heavier steers, weighing over 600kg, traded at a price range from €1.80/kg to €2.45/kg.

Forward store bullocks, weighing between 500kg to 600kg, traded at prices from €950 to €1,280 per head.

The lighter store bullocks, with weights from 400kg to 500kg, sold from €1.70/kg to €2.40/kg.

In the beef heifer trade, heavier females with weights in excess of 560kg sold between €1.80 to €2.20/kg.

Forward store heifers sold from €1.70 to €2.35/kg.

Lighter store heifers, under 400kg, met a good trade with females selling from €1.80/kg to €2.30/kg.

In the cull cow ring, prices seemed to be back on previous weeks, as Friesian and continental-bred cows traded from €0.75/kg to €1.35/kg.

Ballymahon Mart

Ballymahon Mart held its weekly sale of weanlings last Saturday (November 7). A total of 70 heifers and close to 95 bull weanlings were traded on the day.

Commenting on the numbers brought forward for sale, a mart spokesperson stated: “Weanling heifer numbers were up last week, with the number of bulls being similar enough to the previous week.”

From viewing the sample prices, it was the lighter weanling again that commanded a good trade.

Prices for heifer weanlings ranged from €1.89/kg up to €3.00/kg.

Bull weanlings traded from €1.85/kg up to a high of €3.17/kg.

Baltinglass Mart

Baltinglass Mart hosted its weekly cattle sale last Wednesday (November 4).

According to the mart’s manager, Tom Coleman: “The trade on the day was very good for the good forward store bullock and heifer, provided they were in-spec. The 2019-born continental bullock, that would be an R-grade all the way up to a U-grade, were really popular.

“Anything with four moves or over 30 months were found that bit harder to sell.

“The cows were a good trade, considering they were down in price in the factories, but they were back a slight bit compared to last week. Cows made from €810 up to €1,080.”