Upwardly mobile weanlings lead the way
THE story from the tables this week is one of significant upward movement across all weights for both bullocks and heifers, while the majority of weanlings were also upwardly mobile.
Looking at the bullocks and heifers first it is once again a case of the quality animal being the main driver.
These increases among the better bullocks range from an improvement of 10c/kg or €60/ hd in the 600kg+ section to 20c/kg or €100-120/hd in the 500-599kg division, while in the 300-399kg and 400-499kg divisions the better animal rose by 12-13c/kg respectively.
As with any rising tide all boats move upwards, hence the poorer quality animal from 300-599kg added anything from 4c/kg as in the case of 500599kg division to 9c/kg in the 300-399kg division with the 400-499kg lesser bullock gaining 6ckg.
The lesser animal in the 600kg+ section saw even more of an increase with his price putting on 12c/kg or an impressive €72/hd. All told then last week was a very good week for those with steers to sell.
Last week also saw an improvement in the overall mart price for heifers and while not as spectacular they still saw overall averages up by between 3-6c/kg. The biggest increase, 6c/kg or from €24-30/hd, came in the 400-499kg division, while all other weights rose on average by 3c/kg.
The better or top quarter heifer was the main driver, recording a maximum increase of between 5-8c/kg in the 500599kg and 600kg+ divisions.
The lesser quality heifer still managed to push upwards. Price increases for that lesser quality heifer were in general however restricted to a bare 1c/ kg in all but the 600kg+ section where the increase averaged 5c/ kg or €30/hd.
What is obvious from all of this movement is that both farmers and feedlot finishers are concentrating on the more forward animal as they move to replenish sheds that have probably seen a lot of finished stock sold over the last few months.
While the weanling trade also saw its fair share of positive movement last week the overall picture was more a case of hit and miss, especially among the bulls.
Looking at the heifers we find that the 400-550kg section saw an 8c/kg or €32-44/ hd improvement. The lighter 100-299kg weanling heifer did not fare as well with her price dropping on average by 6c/kg or from €6-18/hd.
There is no doubt that there is a strong appetite out there for weanling bulls but buyers are being selective and deciding that in general the better quality animal at current prices offers the best possibility of a profitable return.
This means those better quality bulls were the most consistent performers last week as they rose in each weight division — 7c/kg or from €7-21/hd in the 100-299kg section, 6c/kg or €18-24/hd in the 300-399kg section, while in the 400-550kg division the increase was 4c/kg or from €16-22/hd.
Of course you always have exceptions and last week while the poorer quality bull weanling saw his price dip from 13c/ kg at the lighter end to 4c/kg among the 400-550kg section, the bottom quarter of the 300399kg table saw a hefty 18c/kg or €54-72/hd increase.
This goes to prove, if proof was needed, that the cattle game like life is a very unpredictable business.