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Last week’s sale at Cahir Mart saw an entry of about 170 cattle and over 1,200 sheep on offer. Mart manager Jonathan O’Sullivan said that the trade was very strong once again last week, with plenty of farmers active.
In terms of cattle supply, Jonathan said that numbers right through the year so far have been much stronger than last year. He added that while May was a little quieter than 2016, numbers in June are up again and overall numbers are running about 18% ahead of last year.
The strong cow trade has been a help to numbers also, with high prices attracting more and more cows out to the mart; a trend which has been seen right across the country, according to Jonathan.
Because the mart is based in a dairy area, a high proportion of cattle on offer each week have a dairy background.
Jonathan said that despite this, prices are currently very strong.
Angus and Hereford bullocks and heifers over 500kg are being met with very stronger feeder demand. Prices for these types are ranging mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg for better-quality types.
At the moment, he said that forward types are easily making €2.20/kg.
The current strong beef trade is also helping plainer types. Friesian store bullocks over 500kg are making from €1.85/kg to €1.90/kg.
One crucial issue with all forward cattle at the moment according to Jonathan is Quality Assurance. He said that where cattle are quality assured or are coming from quality assured farms, these cattle are much easier to sell.
The sheep trade is continuing to hold firm. There were over 1,300 on offer this week at the mart. Jonathan said that the number of heavy or butcher-type lambs are scarce currently, but there is a good supply of store lambs passing through the mart.
He said that these are a very strong trade at the moment, with pens of lambs weighing from 33kg to 35kg each making from €80 to €90/head. Factory-fit lambs are being met with strong demand also and are being snapped up by agents. Prices topped out at €127 for a pen of 49kg lambs.
Commission rates are 1.5% to the seller with a minimum charge of €9.50, and €9 to the buyer.
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