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Mart numbers across the country continued to rise this week due to the influx of weanlings appearing in marts.
Analysis of the Martbids data shows that stock throughput is up 20% on the week across all marts.
As mentioned, weanlings are the driving force behind this.
These increased numbers are still being met with a very strong trade ringside, with buyers of the upper end of stock mostly farmers.
Average price for this lighter weanling bull settled at €2.70/kg the week just gone, while heifers were €2.50/kg
Shippers remain quite active for the lesser-quality weanling bulls and heifers.
Demand is incredibly high for that lighter spring-born weanling with superb shape.
Average price for this lighter weanling bull settled at €2.70/kg the week just gone, while heifers were €2.50/kg.
Numbers of this type of stock are set to increase, with a number of breeders participating in the BEEP-S having to wait and feed stock two weeks post-weaning.
Weanling sales data
This week, the Irish Farmers Journal has pulled data from the last month of weanling sales and broken it up by breed.
Breeds with significant data for most weight categories across bulls and heifers were included.
At a quick glance, a similar story is seen with regard to lighter stock achieving that premium price.
From a large data pool, we see that light Blue, Charolais and Simmental weanling bulls are up 30c to 45c/kg on the year.
In general, prices rose by 15c/kg and 30c/kg across the breeds and weights
While the difference on the year isn’t quite as big for heifers in the Charolais breed, Angus, Limousin and Simmental saw very substantial upward changes.
Moving up the weight divisions, these yearly price changes reduce, but, in the majority of cases, are still all positive.
In general, prices rose by 15c/kg and 30c/kg across the breeds and weights.
Due to the size of the data pool, given its inclusion of nearly a month of sale prices, these tables give a very fair reflection of what one can expect to receive for their stock at marts in the coming week.
Stores
Looking to stores, we can see that both bullocks and heifers are back slightly on the week. However, it must be noted these are coming from a very good base.
Averages for both continue to hug that €2/kg mark across the weight divisions.
Mart managers across the country are saying that although they are feeling a slight drop in demand, that it’s only for the lesser animal and that the good ones continue to come into excellent prices.
Finding a more difficult trade are those cattle that will fail to meet spec at factory level; animals born in 2018 are beginning to feel prices tighten
This image is reflected in the data, with the lower end of stock dropping by around 5c/kg, while the upper end has remained fairly stable.
Finding a more difficult trade are those cattle that will fail to meet spec at factory level; animals born in 2018 are beginning to feel prices tighten.
These animals at the 30 months mark, or approaching it but still not fit, are being sold under the €2/kg mark.
In some cases, animals with potential E and U grade carcases will exceed this, but the animals must still be in the vicinity of 30 months of age.
On the other end, this is leading to a stronger outlook in the 2019-born stock.
Even short-keep steers, on track to be slaughtered pre-30 months and in the top third of prices, averaged over €2.30/kg also
Looking through the weights, we can see the lighter stock performed quite well.
In steers, the upper end of prices for lighter stock had an average price of over €2.30/kg.
Even short-keep steers, on track to be slaughtered pre-30 months and in the top third of prices, averaged over €2.30/kg also.
Average prices for heifers 350kg-plus in the upper end of lots saw the average level at €2.35/kg.
Similar to the bullocks, but not quite as high, the top third of short-keep heifers averaged a healthy €2.24/kg.
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