There has been a lot of discussion in recent weeks regarding a reduction in mart throughput.
The latest data published by the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine shows mart throughput running 33,390 head or 12% lower for the first two months of 2026.
A unique feature of the trade in 2025 was the record low number of cattle returning home from sales unsold.
This figure has increased from 5,248 in 2025 to 7,329 in 2026.
As Table 1 details, there is a significant differential in throughput across regions.
The greatest reduction has occurred in marts in Connacht, where throughout is running 9,938 head lower, equating to a fall of 18.5%.
This was followed by marts in Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan, where numbers reduced by 13.8%, with throughput in Leinster down almost 12% and less than 9% in marts in Munster.
Marts in Munster continue to account for almost 50% of throughput, with figures over twice that of Leinster and almost three times higher than marts in Connacht.
Throughput there continues to be driven by sales of dairy and dairy-cross cattle, with pockets of suckler strongholds such as in Clare and Kerry boosting sales.
There has also been close to a 20% drop in the number of cattle moving off farm by way of a farm-to-farm movement, with numbers reducing from over 200,000 to 162,366 head for the first two months of 2026.
Movements of 73,233 head took place in Munster, followed by 52,494 in Leinster, 22,595 in Connacht and 14,056 in Ulster.
Movements are categorised as the province from which cattle are moving from.
Reports from mart managers point to a number of factors feeding into the lower levels of throughput.
In the west of the country, a sharp decline in suckler cow numbers is having an effect.
The high prices on offer and strong level of live exports is also reducing the number of cattle traded at yearling or store stage.
Some mart managers also think that the high prices in 2025 and fine weather in February that year attracted more cattle on to the market and add that the late spring in 2026 has possibly delayed farmers from presenting cattle.
There appears to be merit in this statement, with sale entries increasing by 10% to 20% in recent weeks.
Mart throughput in March 2025 was 40,000 to 50,000 head higher than the corresponding month over the last five years, with high beef prices attracting slaughter-cattle to the ring and more farmers opting to sell calves in mart sales.
There has been a lot of discussion in recent weeks regarding a reduction in mart throughput.
The latest data published by the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine shows mart throughput running 33,390 head or 12% lower for the first two months of 2026.
A unique feature of the trade in 2025 was the record low number of cattle returning home from sales unsold.
This figure has increased from 5,248 in 2025 to 7,329 in 2026.
As Table 1 details, there is a significant differential in throughput across regions.
The greatest reduction has occurred in marts in Connacht, where throughout is running 9,938 head lower, equating to a fall of 18.5%.
This was followed by marts in Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan, where numbers reduced by 13.8%, with throughput in Leinster down almost 12% and less than 9% in marts in Munster.
Marts in Munster continue to account for almost 50% of throughput, with figures over twice that of Leinster and almost three times higher than marts in Connacht.
Throughput there continues to be driven by sales of dairy and dairy-cross cattle, with pockets of suckler strongholds such as in Clare and Kerry boosting sales.
There has also been close to a 20% drop in the number of cattle moving off farm by way of a farm-to-farm movement, with numbers reducing from over 200,000 to 162,366 head for the first two months of 2026.
Movements of 73,233 head took place in Munster, followed by 52,494 in Leinster, 22,595 in Connacht and 14,056 in Ulster.
Movements are categorised as the province from which cattle are moving from.
Reports from mart managers point to a number of factors feeding into the lower levels of throughput.
In the west of the country, a sharp decline in suckler cow numbers is having an effect.
The high prices on offer and strong level of live exports is also reducing the number of cattle traded at yearling or store stage.
Some mart managers also think that the high prices in 2025 and fine weather in February that year attracted more cattle on to the market and add that the late spring in 2026 has possibly delayed farmers from presenting cattle.
There appears to be merit in this statement, with sale entries increasing by 10% to 20% in recent weeks.
Mart throughput in March 2025 was 40,000 to 50,000 head higher than the corresponding month over the last five years, with high beef prices attracting slaughter-cattle to the ring and more farmers opting to sell calves in mart sales.
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