Price lift for heavier stock stabilises mart trade

A FORTNIGHT is a long time in the beef trade.

Two weeks ago the 600kg bullock was clobbered back to an overall average of €2.01/kg while the 500-599kg animal stood on €2.06/kg.

Last week, however, saw a lot of factory activity for these stock in the marts.

In Carnew, for example, factory cattle over 600kgs were selling from €2.00-2.24/kg. Not alone was the price much improved but these bullocks were all over the 30-month cut off for the QPS.

This type of trade helps explain how it was last week that the Ringside averages for the 600kg+ bullock rose by 9-11c/kg or €54-66/hd to €2.12/kg, with the top 600kg+ continental now selling on average for €2.45/ kg or a minimum of €1,470/ hd.

Moving to the 500-599kg section we see more modest rises with the overall average here up by just 1c/ kg week on week, while the poorer beast at this weight gained 3c/kg or from €15-18/ hd.

Sandwiched in between these two averages, the better 500-599kg bullock actually fell by 2c/kg. That said, the 500-599kg bullock has been a fairly consistent performer in recent times.

Although not putting up spectacular weekly average increases, he has not yoyoed to any great extent unlike other weight categories.

This week’s average increase is the minimum 1c/ kg. I believe the fall of 2c/ kg in the top quarter figures will probably be reversed over the coming days as mart managers continue to report very keen interest in this weight division.

Looking briefly at the remaining bullock weight sections, there is a good deal of movement with the average in the 400-499kg section rising by 4c/kg or from €16-20/hd.

Against this there was a fall of 5c/kg among the better animals at this weight, while a 9c/kg increase in the value of the poorer animals gives an overall 4c/kg average increase.

Movement in the 300- 399kg division sees a minor fall, on average of 1c/kg, as a result of more poorer quality animals going through the system than better quality ones.

Heifer trade

The story of last week’s heifer trade is largely one of “steady as she goes”. As in the bullock tables, the biggest movement is within the heavier 600kg+ section with factory demand seeing some sulphuric exchanges between agents. I’m told conversations ringside became pewtty animated in places.

While this drama helped drive up the overall average price, by a rather modest 3c/kg or €18/hd, the real pressure was down at the bottom end where prices for the poorer quality animal rose on average by 14c/kg which is €84/hd.

The 500-599kg heifer had a rather more sedate week with all averages remaining positive but rising only modestly 1-3c/kg or from €5-18/hd.

The 400-499kg heifer rose by 6c/kg in the bottom quarter which is €24-30/ hd, while the better heifer fell as much as 5c/kg leaving her overall average down by 1c/kg.

The 350-399kg section saw the overall average price rise by 4c/kg driven on by a 14c/kg increase in the price of the top quarter animal.

In short the mart trade is in a good place with increased averages for both the 600kg bullock and heifer helping stabilise the trade overall.