Martbids analysis this week shows two very different stories – a positive trade for younger, lighter cattle while older lots are a trickier sell.

Reports from mart managers say that grass buyers are out early this year, which has resulted in prices being maintained and improving in many cases.

These farmers fear that cattle supplies will dwindle rapidly in the next few weeks, especially if trade reopens with Northern Ireland.

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It is also worth remembering that close to 55,000 fewer calves were born in 2025 than 2024, with 23,000 of these being suckler-bred stock so tight numbers are a reality.

Some of these buyers sold on forward stores at all-time high prices last back end and have money in their pocket now to secure cattle, even with the wet weather we have been having of late.

Finishers are a different story, with some of these having purchased these stores last year only to have beef price drop and them left with the cost to bare.

Between these having being scalded and agents for Northern Ireland farmers on ice waiting for the green light to export cattle, store trade is a sticky situation at the minute.

The finished cattle trade is also precarious, with agents keen to talk down trade.

Data from our Martbids marts show just over 2,300 bullocks passed through rings this week weighing over 500kg, with price increases on last week being eroded for the most part by falls of 6c to 25c/kg.

While things may look more positive for heavy heifers over 600kg, we are only seeing relatively low numbers of these coming through and this week’s average price increase of 4c/kg is after a 31c/kg drop last week. We would need a lot of 4c/kg increases to get back up to the level we were at two weeks ago.

Weanlings

While exporter numbers around the rings are down, farmer numbers are up and it is mainly these sub-400kg 2025-born cattle that they are looking to get their hands on.

Last week, I talked about exporters having to start moving cattle quicker or the weather to improve for farmers activity, but we have seen that neither has been required to see a decent lift in bull weanling prices this week.

Over 1,500 bull weanlings tipped the scales between 200kg and 400kg, with just over 400 being above this, leading the majority of bulls to be a more positive trade this week.

The heifer trade has been more stagnant, though numbers remain similar to other weeks of circa 1,100 weanling heifers. Most buyers will be happy to see averages floating around the €5/kg mark.

Cows

Cow numbers have slipped slightly this week back to the low 900s after several weeks of reaching 1,100 and above, with a slight slippage in price also recorded.

Average cow price in marts is now sitting bang on €3/kg, having fallen by 8c/kg this week, while top-end cows have fallen by 13c/kg down to €3.61/kg, while the bottom third of cows price wise have fallen 2c/kg down to €2.48/kg.