Camera at the Mart: Kenmare Mart rounds out successful year of sales

Kenmare Mart rounded out its year with a small sale of stock on Thursday last.

Up to €2,700 was paid for an in-calf heifer, while heavy cull cows made similar money and the few weanlings on offer were mostly making €1,000 with their weight.

Looking back on the year, manager Dan McCarthy said it has been a great year for livestock prices at in the southwest.

“It’s been an outstanding year for farming both cattle and sheep - we’ve seen pries that we’ve never seen before.

“I suppose the downside is that the numbers are getting scarcer and there’s less farmers at it, but the prices are unbelievable for stock this year, so hopefully it will continue.

Interest

“There’s a bunch of young farmers beginning to come back into it and getting an interest and that’s a big plus for farming down here, especially the suckler side of things.

“There was a number of years there and they were making nothing and they were getting out by degree, but now those younger farmers seem to be the ones who are giving the big money for the in-calf heifers.

“You’re looking at €5/kg, €6/kg and €7/kg for stock. They might be back a bit the last couple of weeks when farmers have sheds full and the export thing has quietened down at the same time.”