The past week has seen another strong trade for most types of cattle around the country.
Mart managers have said that the trade overall has been steady to slightly improved, with numbers starting to increase again in some areas.
Where special sales have taken place, prices are on par to slightly better than last year. In terms of the weanling trade, exporters and farmers are keeping a solid floor under prices. However, some mart managers have mooted that plainer types, in particular plain Friesians, have been a slower to sell in recent days where larger numbers are on offer. In contrast, where good-quality Friesian stores are on offer, prices are steady.
The cull cow trade has improved due to a reduction in the numbers on offer, with fleshed types continuing to be a very strong trade.
Steers
There have been more finishers coming to marts in search of fleshed and short-keep cattle after finishing some of what they had in stock. This has resulted in a slightly improved trade for all store cattle, both plain types and better-quality types. The average R grade 600kg bullock is making €1,225/head, with better-quality types making close to €1,400. Store bullocks over 500kg have been a good trade also, with prices ranging from €1,050 to €1,250/head. Lighter stores have been steady where the quality on offer is good.
Heifers
The heifer trade has mirrored the bullock trade in the last week. The best demand continues to be for R grade heavy heifers and better. However, the number of these on offer remains tight in most areas, resulting in a slight price improvement of €5 to €15/head. The average 500kg heifer is making €1,100. Plainer types are making from €950/head upwards, but these are mainly plain dairy crosses. Stores from 400kg to 500kg are selling mainly from €900 to €1,100/head. Prices are up by about €20/head in some areas in recent days.
Weanlings
The weanling trade is firm, backed by exporter and farmer demand. Special sales of forward and heavy bulls over 400kg have seen prices range mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.60/kg. Bulls from 300kg to 400kg are being bought mostly by farmers, with exporters buying at the bottom end of weights and under 300kg. Export activity for heifers is helping prices, with the average 330kg heifer making €800/head. Heifers from 200kg to 300kg are selling from €2.50/kg to €2.60/kg with top-quality types making over €3.00/kg.
Prices on par with last year's special autumn-born weanling sale
Cattle prices: quality stores met with strong demand at Dowra Mart
Forward and short-keep cattle prices up slightly at Nenagh Mart
Calf prices: steady trade for quality continues at Ballymena Mart