While the trade overall has remained quite strong in the past week, there have been signs of a weakening in cull cow prices and in the prices paid for forward bullocks and heifers. The cutting of cow prices at the factory last week had an immediate impact on the live trade, with farmers and feeders reducing the price paid at the mart ring quite quickly.
While the trade overall has remained quite strong in the past week, there have been signs of a weakening in cull cow prices and in the prices paid for forward bullocks and heifers.
The cutting of cow prices at the factory last week had an immediate impact on the live trade, with farmers and feeders reducing the price paid at the mart ring quite quickly.
Short-keep bullocks saw a sharp decrease in prices also, with forward types less affected. In complete contrast, the weanling trade is still extremely strong, with farmer buyers very active for all types of bulls and heifers.
Plainer weanlings and stores are being met with a little weaker demand and slightly lower prices.
The cull cow trade has seen prices ease by about 10c/kg or €50 to €70/head on average, with the upper end of prices now ranging mainly from €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg for U grade continentals.
Average-quality feeding continental cows are selling mainly at a range from €1.40/kg to €1.60/kg.
Steers
Short-keep bullocks over 600kg sold mainly from €1.90/kg to €2.00/kg – back by more than 10c/kg on last week. Forward store bullocks from 500kg to 600kg have seen prices ease slightly also, but by just 7c/kg or €35 to €40/head on last week. In stronger suckler areas, prices are holding best with R grades selling from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg. Lighter store bullocks from 400kg to 500kg are a steady trade on last week. The average 450kg steer is selling for €950/head, with the majority of continentals making from €1,050 to €1,150.
Heifers
The heifer trade is holding slightly stronger than the bullock trade in many parts of the country. Heifers from 500kg to 600kg are selling for €2.06/kg on average, with prices of €2.10/kg to €2.35/kg on average in suckler areas for R grades. U grade heifers are making from €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg. Lighter store heifers from 400kg to 500kg are selling mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg on average, with U grades making from €2.40/kg to €2.60/kg in some parts of the country.
Weanlings
Strong farmer demand has driven the price of weanlings higher in the past week. Bulls from 300kg to 400kg are selling from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg for average-quality types, which is up almost €20/head on last week. The top third are selling from €2.50/kg to €2.80/kg. Weanling heifers from 300kg to 400kg are selling mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg for R grades. Top-quality heifers are selling for over €2.60/kg. Lighter heifers from 200kg to 300kg are seeing a slight increase in prices also, with U grades selling from €2.90/kg to €3.10/kg.
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