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Camera at the mart was at last Wednesday’s sale at Portumna Mart. Mart manager John O’Sullivan said that the numbers at the sale have started to tail off in the last few weeks, as usual at this time of year.
Having that said, there was still an entry of 120 store bullocks and heifers on offer. In addition to Wednesday’s store cattle sale, there is an additional weanling sale held each Monday at the mart from September onwards. John said that there are only two Monday weanling sales left in the coming weeks before the sale reverts to Wednesdays only.
In terms of Wednesday’s sale, there were plenty of farmers present and the trade was steady for all good-quality lots. The best trade on the day was for more forward types, which were met with the best demand from farmers and feeders. Those over 550kg sold mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg, with better-quality types making over €2.30/kg for U grades. Lighter types were met with firm demand also, but demand for lighter types ran a little behind that of forward bullocks.
Prices in the main for steers from 400kg to 500kg ranged from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg for average-quality suckler-bred continentals. John said that the mart usually gets a small share of Angus and Hereford bucket-reared cattle on a weekly basis. Demand for those types was firm, but the number on offer was reasonably low.
In recent weeks, John said that although there are still a good number of farmers actively turning out to the sale each week, their buying activity is reducing slightly, in line with supply.
In terms of the heifer trade, John said that demand for heifers is stronger than bullocks, with more buyers active for these than the equivalent steer.
The average forward store heifer made from €1,000 to €1,100. Lighter store heifers around 400kg sold mainly from €920 to €1,000, with plainer types selling for around the €2.00/kg mark.
Cull cows were a fairly firm trade again last week according to John. In the main, the most cows they get are store types and they sold mainly from €500 to €900. There were a handful of Jersey-cross cows that made from €300 to €380.
Commission rates are €9 to the buyer and 1.4% to the seller to a maximum of €16.50/head.
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