USE PAPER CODE

28 January 2020

Darren Carty on 28 Jan 2020

Camera at the Mart: beef and heavy bulls up €50 to €100 at Carnew fatstock

Factory agents were very active for stock, with prices paid for slaughter-fit bullocks, heifers and cows well ahead of equivalent factory prices.

Darren Carty

28 January 2020

Camera at the Mart: beef and heavy bulls up €50 to €100 at Carnew fatstock

The champion of the show was this 892kg Belgian Blue-cross bullock born May 2018 that sold for €2,400 (€2.69/kg).

This heavy Charolais bullock, weighing 924kg and born December 2017, sold for €1,830 (€1.98/kg).

Four aged Charolais-cross bullocks, born from April to November 2016 and averaging 844kg, sold for €1,730 (€2.05/kg).

These heavy Charolais bullocks, averaging 920kg and born March and May 2016, sold for €1,810 (€1.97/kg).

This Limousin bullock, weighing 724kg and born April 2018, sold for €1,680 (€2.32/kg).

This quality Limousin bullock, born June 2018 and weighing 660kg, sold for €1,570 (€2.38/kg).

This aged Limousin-cross bullock, weighing 686kg and born March 2017, sold for €1,350 (€1.97/kg).

This October-2017 born Limousin-cross bullock weighing 586kg sold for €1,180 (€2.01/kg).

This Charolais bullock, born July 2017 and weighing 614kg, sold for €1,300 (€2.12/kg).

This good-quality 30-month-old Charolais bullock, born June 2017 and weighing 640kg, sold for €1,440 (€2.25/kg).

This 744kg Charolais bullock born July 2017 sold for €1,670 (€2.25/kg).

This Blonde d’Aqutaine-cross bull, born August 2016 and weighing 1,238kg, sold for €1,700 (€1.37/kg).

This aged Charolais bullock, born February 2016 and weighing 830kg, sold for €1,600 (€1.93/kg).

This 870kg Charolais-cross bullock born April 2017 sold for €1,780 (€2.05/kg).

These four Charolais bullocks, born from April 2016 to April 2017 and weighing 813kg on average, sold for €1,690 (€2.08/kg).

This top-quality 840kg Limousin bullock born April 2018 sold for €1,940 (€2.31/kg).

This Charolais bullock, born June 2017 and weighing 656kg, sold for €1,450 (€2.21/kg).

Carnew Mart’s annual fatstock show and sale of bullocks and bulls held last Saturday was described as an outstanding trade for any slaughter-fit stock, while the trade for forward bulls was much improved on pre-Christmas levels. Mart manager David Quinn said factory agents were particularly keen for any cattle that could be slaughtered immediately.

Mart manager David Quinn said factory agents were particularly keen for any cattle that could be slaughtered immediately.

The best demand was for cattle under 30 months of age, but David said age and quality assurance status did not deter factory appetite, with these cattle selling well above equivalent factory prices.

Martbids analysis shows an entry on over 150 bullocks weighing in excess of 600kg achieving an average price of €2.08/kg.

Top-quality slaughter-fit U grading bullocks under 30 months of age ranged from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg, while significant numbers of R+ and U grading bullocks weighing in excess of 800kg and aged over 30 months of age ranged in price from €2.05/kg to €2.10/kg, with some lesser-quality types falling under €2/kg. The champion bullock owned by Derry Rothwell, Tinahely, secured the top price of €2.69/kg.

There was also excellent demand for forward store bullocks and bulls, with prices for bullocks up €50 to €80 on pre-Christmas levels. Good-quality continental forward stores sold from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg, with O grading types selling from €1.95/kg to €2.10/kg.

Heavy bulls weighing 480kg upwards were very much back in demand, with David reporting prices anywhere from €70 to €150 per head higher than levels witnessed just a couple of months ago and following a similar trend to store bullocks.

Weanling bulls and steers weighing 300kg to 400kg averaged €2.55/kg for the top third of animals, with top prices rising to €2.70/kg to €2.80/kg. Average-quality lots averaged €2.31/kg, while the bottom third of animals, including dairy-bred stock, averaged around €2/kg.

Despite farmers aiming to present cows for this Saturday’s fatstock show and sale of heifers and cows, there was a good entry of over 150 cows, with about 120 Friesians on offer.

David said factory agents were again very active for any slaughter-fit cows. Good-quality fleshed cows sold from €170 to €250 with the weight or from €1.20/kg to €1.40/kg on average.

A clearance sale of a top dairy herd on Friday recorded an exceptional trade, with 90+ cows averaging over €1,560, while maiden heifers averaged €930 and a small number of heifer calves averaged €380 per head.

Commission rates are 1.5% to the seller and €10 to the buyer.