The past week has seen a mixed trade at some mart rings around the country. However, in some areas where special sales and where good-quality cattle were on offer, prices were firm.

In the southeast, mart managers are reporting a steady trade for all good-quality cattle, but plainer types continue to be a slow sell.

In the south, there are reports of a worsening trade for Friesian cattle as a result of weaker farmer buyer demand. This has been the case for both steers and weanlings.

In the west, there has been more price pressure on lesser-quality cattle and the numbers of plainer cattle on offer has increased. However, where good-quality cattle are on offer, prices are reported to be quite firm, especially for forward store bullocks, with heifers a slightly lesser trade.

Steers

Similar to last week, the best trade is evident for forward store and short-keep bullocks. Better-quality U grade continentals are reported to be a steady trade on last week. However, average-quality and lesser-quality types have seen prices ease by €30 to €50/head in some areas. Lighter store Friesian bullocks from 400kg to 500kg are reported to be selling from €1.30/kg to €1.50/kg in some areas of the south. Average-quality continentals in the same weight range are making from €1.95/kg to €2.10/kg.

Heifers

The heifer trade is reported to be steady, but it is still weaker than the equivalent steer trade in many areas. Forward heifers are the strongest trade, but the numbers on offer continue to be tight. Heifers over 600kg are few and far between, but are selling from €2.00/kg for average-quality types to €2.30/kg for U grades. Heifers from 400kg to 500kg are selling from €2.05/kg to €2.20/kg, while plainer types are making from €1.80/kg to €1.95/kg.

Weanlings

Light weanling bulls continue to be supported by exporter demand, with buyers still active for the next shipment. Prices of bulls from 200kg to 300kg continue to run at a premium of 10c to 12c/kg over the equivalent heifer. As a result, the average 280kg bull is making €714/head. Bulls from 300kg to 400kg are selling mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg on average, with the top third making up to €3.00/kg. Weanling heifers in the same weight range are selling from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg or €30 to €40/head behind the equivalent bull.

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