The mart trade can only be described as variable. The number of cattle passing through marts currently is very low, with the exception of the odd special sale.

In terms of the weanling trade, where special sales are taking place, prices are not being hit as badly as was anticipated.

However, with numbers low and very high-quality weanlings on offer in special sales, this is distorting the market somewhat.

Mart managers are saying that quality is having a huge impact on prices paid for the cattle that are on offer in the marts.

However, at this stage of the year, with supply so low it is impossible to tell what the autumn trade might be like.

There are still strong fears that, with beef prices low, when larger numbers of stock come to the market in the autumn that this will have a severely negative impact on average prices.

The spell of good weather has also had a positive impact on prices up to now and if the weather continues favourably into the autumn, it may help to ease the pressure on prices.

Steers

While average prices in MartWatch have improved on last week, the trade is still extremely variable, with quality having a major impact on prices. Short-keep and fleshed bullocks over 600kg are selling mainly from €1.90/kg to €2.00/kg at the top of the market, with many plainer types making from €1.75/kg and upwards. Store bullocks from 400kg to 500kg are still the best on a price-per-kilo basis, with farmer buyers tending to source lighter stores. The average 450kg bullock is making €945/head, which is on par with the same time last year.

Heifers

Last week, heifer prices were running up to 10c/kg above the equivalent bullock. However, with more numbers on offer and a greater proportion of plainer-quality types sold through marts, prices have taken a dip. Store heifers over 500kg are selling from €1.90/kg to €2.10/kg for average types, with the top third making over €2.25/kg at some marts. Prices are running €55 to €65/head behind the same time last year. Lighter store heifers from 400kg to 500kg are selling mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg and up to €2.60/kg in some areas.

Weanlings

Quality is the main factor influencing prices. Plainer-quality types from 300kg to 400kg are selling from €1.80/kg to €2.00/kg, with Friesians making from €1.30/kg and upwards. At the top of the market, better-quality bulls are selling from €2.50/kg to €2.60/kg. Heavy feeding bulls over 450kg are selling from €2.00/kg for plain types to €2.70/kg at the top of the market, with little difference between plain bulls at 420kg and bulls at 350kg. Weanling heifers are a little easier than last week and are selling mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.30/kg.

Read more

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