The annual Christmas dairy sale at Corrin Mart, Fermoy, Cork, last Friday 29 November was best described as a difficult trade for both calved and in calf animals.

Some quality lots did make good enough money, however the difficult sale trade is not unexpected given the fact that we are heading for an over-quota situation at the end of March 2014.

Traditionally, the Christmas sale (normally 8 December) is a very good sale for Corrin.

Over 200 lots were presented for sale last Friday and mart manager Sean Leahy reported a 50% clearance rate.

He said: “Of the 219 lots on offer, 109 were sold.”

In-calf heifers

The majority of stock on offer were in-calf heifers.

A good number of in-calf heifers went home unsold as farmers were not happy with the money on offer. However, what did sell made reasonable money for the year that’s in it.

Some sample lots were a group of February 2012-born heifers in-calf for February 2014 ranging in EBI from €130 to €160 which made from €1,000 to €1,170.

Late May 2012 heifers (18-month-old heifers) struggled to get a bid and didn’t sell.

Another group of pedigree heifers in-calf for next February ranging in EBI from €48 to €95 averaged €1,190 and ranged from €1,300 to €1,080.

Calved stock

There were a small number of freshly calved heifers on offer. Some sample lots were a November 2011-born heifer, calved one month, EBI €99, sold for €1,370.

A comrade heifer, also born November 2011, calved 10 days, EBI €74 also sold for €1,360.

A three-year-old heifer, calved three weeks sold for €1,840.