Pics and prices: 'Grass buyers' drive the trade at Delvin Mart

Delvin Mart’s weekly cattle sale took place on Thursday last (April 19). A mixture of farmers, feedlot buyers and exporters competed for cattle at the mart.

The manager John Gilligan was very happy with the trade and outlined that prices were running €30-40/head dearer than the previous week’s sale.

He said: “Prices have increased right across the board. We had more farmers competing for stock and this helped to boost prices; I can’t see cattle getting any cheaper in the near future.

“The number of cattle presented for sale has also increased. I would expect this to be the case for the next number of weeks and it will probably start to level off towards the mid-May,” he explained.

Touching on the new safety measures implemented in some marts across the country, John added: “We have also changed our system. We now have a ‘viewing period’ where farmers are allowed up the yard to look at cattle.

“After that, the gates will be locked; it’s all in the interest of safety. Nobody wants to see anybody getting hurt. So far, everybody is respecting the new regulations and it’s just a matter of getting patrons used to the idea,” he added.

Bullocks

The trade for bullocks was brisk from start to finish. Store lots sold for €2.04-2.72/kg, while forward store types made €1.92-2.46/kg. A good clearance was achieved and only a handful of animals went unsold.

Click on a thumbnail in the gallery (below) to open up a full-size image; once opened you can scroll sideways to see the next picture. Refer to each caption to see details of each lot, including the sale price.

: This 670kg, April-2016 born, Charolais steer sold for €1,420 or €2.11/kg

: These 462kg, September and November-2016 born, Limousin bullocks made €1,150 or €2.48/kg

: These 490kg, March and April-2016 born, Limousin and Charolais steers sold for €1,125 or €2.30/kg

: These 410kg, December-2016 born, Hereford steers sold for €915 or €2.23/kg

: This 430kg, January-2017 born, Aberdeen Angus steer made €885 or €2.05/kg

: This 570kg, July-2016 born, Blonde D’Aquitaine bullock made €1,505 or €2.64/kg

: This 655kg, September-2016 born, Simmental bullock made €1,485 or €2.26/kg

: This 415kg, August-2016 born, Charolais bullock made €1,100 or €2.65/kg

: This 580kg, August-2016 born, Hereford bullock made €1,190 or €2.05/kg

: These 455kg, January and February-2016 born, Friesian steers sold for €815 or €1.79/kg

: This 420kg, January-2017 born, Friesian bullock sold for €755 or €1.79/kg

: These 249kg, February and May-2017 born, Friesian steers sold for €400 or €1.60/kg

Bulls

A number of weanling bulls also went under the hammer at the Westmeath-based venue. These lots met an improved demand and traded for €440-1,380/head.

: This 345kg, April-2017 born, Charolais bull sold for €850 or €2.46/kg

: This 260kg, May-2017 born, Charolais bull sold for €745 or €2.86/kg

: This 410kg, May-2016 born, Limousin bull sold for €930 or €2.26/kg

: This 530kg, February-2016 born, Charolais bull made €1,380 or €2.60/kg

: This 420kg, March-2017 born, Charolais bull sold for €920 or €2.19/kg

: This 380kg, April-2017 born, Charolais bull made €850 or €2.23/kg

: This 370kg, May-2017 born, Charolais bull made €830 or €2.24/kg

: This 395kg, April-2017 born, Charolais bull sold for €980 or €2.48/kg

: This 430kg, April-2017 born, Charolais bull made €1,050 or €2.44/kg

Heifers

On the day, store heifers traded for €2.06-2.92/kg; forward types made €2.12-2.54/kg. A 100% clearance rate was recorded.

: This 425kg, April-2016 born, Belgian Blue heifer sold for €875 or €2.05/kg

: This 405kg, June-2016 born, Limousin heifer sold for €850 or €2.09/kg

: This 385kg, April-2016 born, Limousin heifer sold for €800 or €2.07/kg

: These 385kg, November-2016 and February-2017 born, Aberdeen Angus heifers made €800 or €2.07/kg

: These 358kg, October-2016 and April-2017 born, Limousin heifers made €780 or €2.17/kg

: This 485kg, May-2016 born, Hereford heifer made €980 or €2.02/kg

: This 525kg, March-2013 born, Limousin heifer sold for €1,055 or €2.00/kg

: This 470kg, 5-star, September-2016 born, Limousin heifer sold for €1,190 or €2.53/kg

: This 515kg, 5-star, September-2016 born, Limousin heifer sold for €1,130 or €2.19/kg

: This 515kg, September-2016 born, Limousin heifer made €1,165 or €2.26/kg

: This 325kg, May-2017 born, Hereford heifer sold for €655 or €2.01/kg

: This 560kg, April-2016 born, Hereford heifer made €1,080 or €1.92/kg

Cows

The cull cow trade was lively from start to finish. Generally speaking, Friesian lots traded for €1.45-1.80/kg, while continental types sold for between €1.65/kg and €2.16/kg.

: This 695kg, December-2009 born, Charolais cow made €1,270

: This 740kg, March-2013 born, Charolais cow made €1,200

: This 535kg, March-2013 born, Charolais cow sold for €850

: This 650kg, April-2013 born, Limousin cow sold for €1,175

: This 555kg, May-2011 born, Blonde D’Aquitaine cow made €900

: This 545kg, 4-star, September-2007 born, Belgian Blue cow sold for €785

: This 535kg, January-2013 born, Friesian cow sold for €760

: This 605kg, May-2010 born, Friesian cow sold for €770

Calves

A number of calves also passed through the ring. Looking at prices, ‘black and white’ bull calves and lots suitable for export traded at €45-100/head. When it came to Friesian bull calves, farmers were willing to pay up to €200/head.

Meanwhile, the lighter, younger calves sold anywhere from €35/head to €60/head. Calves with Jersey genetics generally realised the lower of these prices.

Angus and Hereford bulls traded for up to €275/head. Looking at continental bull calves, a top price of €360/head was achieved by a Charolais calf.