Beef
Castlereas Mart held its weekly sale of cattle on Thursday (September 30) which saw a "strong trade...
With the strengthening of the store cattle trade, some prices being paid for some Hereford and Angus stores are improving as the weeks go on.
The wet weather failed to put much of a dampener on the trade for cattle last week, as prices reported were more or less unaffected.
Reports from mart managers last week concluded there was an ease back in the demand for dry cows as prices of €2.00/kg were harder come by.
Last week, cull cows have received a further rise in appetite according to mart managers with highs of up to €2.24/kg recorded.
Headford and Catlerea are the latest marts to announce the postponement of scheduled sales this week.
Mart report: This week will see a slight normality return to marts, as farmers will be permitted to stand socially distant at ring side.
AgriLand takes a brief look at how marts around the country have been trading this week, as online buyers come to the fore.
We bring you a round up of some of the weekly sales in Raphoe Mart, Kilkenny Mart and Castlerea Mart, which took place last week.
On Monday Castlerea Mart held its annual show and sale of Aberdeen Angus bullocks, as well as the sale of continental bullocks.
Although numbers fluctuated in the week gone by, reports all suggest that trade remained strong in cattle marts across the country.
As expected, the number of cattle presented for sale at marts across the country has increased over the past week.
A number of exporters are actively sourcing stock from all parts of the country and this is having a positive effect on the weanling trade.
Both exporters and farmers are battling for quality weanlings at the ringside which, in turn, is helping to boost prices.
While beef factory base quotes are unchanged, the cattle mart trade is - for the most part - best described as slow.
Mart managers across the country have noted the number of cattle presented for sale is still on the low side, with prices very much dependent on quality.
Some 400 cattle went under the hammer at Castlerea Mart on Thursday last, June 27, according to the mart's manager Brendan Egan.
The country received mixed weather over the past week and farmers have battled the elements in an effort to harvest silage where possible.
Mart managers have noted an increased demand due to strong grass growth in many parts of the country which has lead to a better demand.
Mart mangers have noted that there has been a marked decrease in the number of cattle presented for sale in recent days.
Where good-quality, short-keep cows have been presented for sale, these lots have met an increased demand.
Over the past week, mart managers have noted that poorer-quality cattle have become a harder sell, while quality stock are still in demand.
