Prices finally rise in unison across the divisions

THE ringside tables over the last six weeks have seen a lot of fluctuations. Prices fell one week and rose the next with on occasion a rhythm of one-up, one-down creeping into the relationship between the price of heifers and bullocks.

Last week, though, the pressure of falling mart numbers coupled with improving factory prices pushed almost everything on the bullock and heifer tables upwards.

At the heavier end of the bullock table, there is an overall average increase of 6c/kg or €36/hd for the 600kg+bullock while the better or top quarter animal at this weight rose by 11c/kg or €66/hd.

Looking at specific breeds, that averages €2.39/ kg for the better continental or €1,434/hd, 2.01/kg for your better Angus or €1,206/ hd.

The better Friesian closed right up on that Angus price to stand an average of €1.90/ kg which is €1,140/hd.

The gap between those better Angus and Friesian bullocks was 29c/kg two weeks ago — last week it stood at 11c/kg, that’s a difference of €174/hd versus €66/hd.

Moving back down the weight division, on the bullock table the general trend is for more modest 1-2/kg gains across most categories. In the top quarter of the 500-599kg section, buyers of these animals are passing back some recent factory gains.

On the heifer table, it is also the heavier 600kg+ animals that show the biggest price increases with their overall average prices increasing by 11c/kg or €66/ hd to €2.22/hd or a unit cost of €1,332.

That 11c/kg pales significantly when compared to the 26c/kg increase (€156/ hd) racked up by the better conformation heifer. Indeed across the entire heifer table it is the better conformation animal that outperformed the market last.

The message from both the bullock and heifer tables is very clear: farmers and fatteners expect finished cattle to become less plentiful and the preference is for the better made continental.

The good news continues among the weanlings with heifers seeing overall average price increases running from 2c/kg in the 400-550kg section to 15c/kg in the 300399kg section.

The story on the bull table sees gains, ranging from 4c/ kg in the overall average price in the 300-399kg section to 9c/kg in the price of your top quarter animal in the 400-600kg section.

Unfortunately with falls of between 3-17c/kg mixed in here and there, it’s a table with more of a dirty snowball feel to it than snow dust.