Mart managers have reported another strong week of trading right across the country.
However, in recent days, there are reports of some plainer-quality cattle being met with a little tougher trade.
Numbers entered into marts have increased massively in the last seven days, with the strong prices enticing farmers out with stock a little earlier than usual.
Despite the current uncertainty surrounding Brexit, farmer buyers are showing strong resilience going back out to the ringside to source stock for grass. There are also widespread reports of feedlot buyers having increased demand in the past week in certain areas.
The weanling trade is strong where good-quality types are on offer. However, like in autumn, plainer-quality weanlings are still a variable trade in some areas, with farmers opting to source better-quality types.
The cull cow trade is solid, with good numbers of cows still on offer in the south. The majority of Friesian cows are said to be a very steady trade, with plenty of store buyers sourcing. Prices for Friesians are ranging from €1.00/kg to €1.20/kg in the main.
Steers
MartWatch data has shown the bullock trade to have lifted in the past week, despite numbers continuing to increase quickly. The average 600kg steer is making €1,240, while lighter 550kg stores are making from €1,150 to €1,200/head. The top third are selling from €2.40/kg to €2.50/kg in stronger suckler areas. Light stores from 400kg to 500kg saw prices increase by up to €50 per head. The average 450kg steer is selling for €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg, with the top third making from €2.40/kg to €2.60/kg.
Heifers
The heifer trade has seen a positive week, with a little more demand for the stronger numbers available. Heifers over 600kg saw prices rise by up to €60/head with the average just 7c/kg or €42/head behind the same time last year. Top-quality heifers in the same weight range are from €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg. Heifers from 500kg to 600kg are selling from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg for average-quality R grades. Lighter heifers from 400kg to 500kg are a slightly improved trade also, with prices ranging from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg for average-quality types.
Weanlings
Feeding bulls are a little improved, backed by firm feeder buyer activity. The average 450kg feeding bull is selling from €1,150 to €1,200. The weanling trade is firm, with 300kg to 400kg bulls from €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg in stronger suckler areas and up to €2.80/kg for top-quality types. Light bulls are a more mixed trade and are selling mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg for average-quality types and for over €2.45/kg where better-quality types are on offer. Heifers from 300kg to 400kg are selling from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg on average.
Read more
Camera at the mart: quality store cattle a strong steady trade in Kilrush
Camera at the mart: calf trade eases only slightly in Kilkenny
Camera at the mart: stickier trade in Mountbellew Mart
Camera at the mart: super trade for grass cattle at Camlough Mart
Northern view: processors move to cut beef prices as hogget trade eases
Mart managers have reported another strong week of trading right across the country.
However, in recent days, there are reports of some plainer-quality cattle being met with a little tougher trade.
Numbers entered into marts have increased massively in the last seven days, with the strong prices enticing farmers out with stock a little earlier than usual.
Despite the current uncertainty surrounding Brexit, farmer buyers are showing strong resilience going back out to the ringside to source stock for grass. There are also widespread reports of feedlot buyers having increased demand in the past week in certain areas.
The weanling trade is strong where good-quality types are on offer. However, like in autumn, plainer-quality weanlings are still a variable trade in some areas, with farmers opting to source better-quality types.
The cull cow trade is solid, with good numbers of cows still on offer in the south. The majority of Friesian cows are said to be a very steady trade, with plenty of store buyers sourcing. Prices for Friesians are ranging from €1.00/kg to €1.20/kg in the main.
Steers
MartWatch data has shown the bullock trade to have lifted in the past week, despite numbers continuing to increase quickly. The average 600kg steer is making €1,240, while lighter 550kg stores are making from €1,150 to €1,200/head. The top third are selling from €2.40/kg to €2.50/kg in stronger suckler areas. Light stores from 400kg to 500kg saw prices increase by up to €50 per head. The average 450kg steer is selling for €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg, with the top third making from €2.40/kg to €2.60/kg.
Heifers
The heifer trade has seen a positive week, with a little more demand for the stronger numbers available. Heifers over 600kg saw prices rise by up to €60/head with the average just 7c/kg or €42/head behind the same time last year. Top-quality heifers in the same weight range are from €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg. Heifers from 500kg to 600kg are selling from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg for average-quality R grades. Lighter heifers from 400kg to 500kg are a slightly improved trade also, with prices ranging from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg for average-quality types.
Weanlings
Feeding bulls are a little improved, backed by firm feeder buyer activity. The average 450kg feeding bull is selling from €1,150 to €1,200. The weanling trade is firm, with 300kg to 400kg bulls from €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg in stronger suckler areas and up to €2.80/kg for top-quality types. Light bulls are a more mixed trade and are selling mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg for average-quality types and for over €2.45/kg where better-quality types are on offer. Heifers from 300kg to 400kg are selling from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg on average.
Read more
Camera at the mart: quality store cattle a strong steady trade in Kilrush
Camera at the mart: calf trade eases only slightly in Kilkenny
Camera at the mart: stickier trade in Mountbellew Mart
Camera at the mart: super trade for grass cattle at Camlough Mart
Northern view: processors move to cut beef prices as hogget trade eases
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