Camera at the Mart: red hot trade in Cahersiveen spring show and sale

Iveragh Co-operative Mart’s spring show and sale of bulls and bullocks in Cahersiveen on Tuesday resulted in an excellent trade, with only seven out of the 416 cattle on offer selling for under €1,000.

There was no shortage of demand, with a 97% clearance of stock, as finishers and feedlot buyers targeted heavy bullocks and young bulls, with four out of every five animals sold ringside and the rest purchased online.

The number of weanling bulls was a surprise for this time of year, with almost 300 on offer. Of these, three exporters accounted for 120 of the weanling bulls on offer. Topping the price per kilo stakes were a group of four Belgian Blue-cross bulls weighing 375kg that sold for €2,260 (€6.03/kg).

Prices of €4.20/kg to €4.30/kg were the norm for forward 2023-born bullocks.

A top price of €3,180 was paid for a December 2022-born Limousin-cross bullock that weighed 690kg.

There was also a selection of 2024-born bullocks, with the general run of these making from €4 to €4.30/kg. A pair of Limosuin bulls weighing 278kg and selling for €1,270 (€4.57/kg) stood out here.

Speaking after the sale, manager Mike Kissane said: “Any U-grading bull was making in excess of €4/kg and from there up to €5/kg for the exceptionally well-muscled weanlings.

“When you go back a notch to the R grades, you were looking at about €3.40/kg to €3.90/kg at the upper end for those plainer continentals. They were the second-class citizens in this sale.

“Farmer buyers were going for the lighter weight weanling bulls that they could castrate. The heavy bulls were too heavy for the bullock job and too well done too. They were bidding up to around €1,300 to €1,350 and after that they weren’t inclined to much further price wise.

“Maybe there’s a bit of nervousness on paying those bigger prices for cattle that will be around for another year. They were happier to pay a bit extra on shorter-keep stock, as there’s a bit less risk as beef prices appear more certain for the next few months.”