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Corrin Mart, Fermoy was the destination for the main camera at the mart for last Friday’s weanling sale.
Mart manager Sean Leahy said that there were about 550 weanlings on offer last week. Demand was strong, as were prices. He said shipper activity for light weanlings was again very evident, but strong farmer demand saw farmers outbid shippers at times. The manager said that in the past few weeks there has been an increase in the supply of light weanlings on offer, but prices have remained firm.
Leahy said coloured weanlings sold mainly from €2.20/kg for heavy types to €3.00/kg for top-quality light weanlings. There was a good entry of bucket-reared Angus and Hereford calves, which sold mainly from €1.80/kg to €2.00/kg. Friesian weanlings sold from €1.50/kg for plainer types to as much as €2.00/kg for top-quality lots. Sean said that in terms of numbers, heifer calves are coming out in slightly smaller numbers compared with bulls, and that has helped the prices of heifers last week.
Leahy said Tuesday’s store cattle sale saw a reduced entry of stores, which resulted in a slight improvement in prices. There were 800 store cattle and cows on offer this week, which is a drop of 200 head on last week. He said lower numbers of heifers coming out has helped prices, and in some cases prices were up by €30/head on the previous week.
In terms of prices, he said that coloured forward store bullocks made about €2.00/kg to €2.35/kg, while good-quality lighter coloured store bullocks made from€2.00/kg to €2.40/kg. Angus and Herefords sold from 1.80/kg to €1.95/kg for forward stores, with the Angus being met with more demand than Herefords, according to Sean. Finishers remain active for these, with many sourcing forward stores to put straight into the shed to feed.
Friesian stores were a good trade also, with those from 500kg to 600kg making from€1.50/kg to €1.70/kg. Those from 400kg to 500kg were making from €1.75/kg to €1.80/kg.
Heifers were an improved trade and coloured types over 500kg sold from €2.00/kg to €2.40/kg. Angus and Herefords made from €1.75/kg to €2.00/kg, with lighter types making from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg. Cow numbers are running slightly lower than last year. Prices of those straight from the parlour are running from €0.90/kg to €1.20/kg. Commission rates for weanlings are 1.5% to the seller with a €2.50/head entry fee to a maximum of €8.50 and €8.50/head to the buyer.
Prices highest for quality cattle as more plainer types on offer
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Strong trade for quality continues at Ballymena
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