Push for stock sees quality bullocks jump €100-€150/hd

QUESTION marks are being raised over whether ‘panic buying’ is causing a ringside surge.

Kilkenny auctioneer George Candler is asking whether the current prices for stock are justified, or are we seeing a repeat of the rush for an elusive loaf of bread witnessed during the recent storm?

One agent I spoke to in the west said that there appeared to be a certain amount of panic in relation to what numbers may be available.

In short, last week if the roads permitted and you had good stock to sell, you were in clover.

The ringside tables show massive price jumps right across the bullock table and for the forward and factory heifer.

Average prices in the 400499kg bullock section jumped 25c/kg last week, or from €100125/hd, while the same c/kg increase in the 500-599kg division brought overall average prices up by €125-150/hd.

As has often happened before, and is commented on in several of the mini mart reports, the better quality animal was the main price driver.

When you buy top quality stock even at inflated prices, you have the consolation of knowing that conformation wise, you could have done no more.

It was a similar case among the 600kg+ bullocks, with the better animal pushing on by 21c/kg or €126/hd, which helped push up their overall average by 12c/kg or €72/hd.

The price of the so-called ‘poorer’ animal, which com- prises the bottom quarter of our various weight divisions was also well up in most of the bullock and heifer sections.

The one exception was the 600kg+ section where the increase in the value of the bottom quarter animal scratched along at a bare 3c/kg or €18/ hd as opposed to the €126/hd mentioned above for the better animal.

The poorer conformation 600kg+ bullock aside, increases in those poorer types ranged from 12c/kg in the 400-499kg section to 17c/kg in the 500599kg division. That’s a price lift of €48-102/hd.

Heifers

Moving to the heifers, last week’s price lift divided their table with upward movement coming into effect only when you went past the 500kg mark.

Prices below this weight on the ringside table were inclined to be a bit all over the place, up among the poorer quality animals yet appearing to be under significant pressure once you went for a better animal.

This will likely work itself out with a full schedule of marts this week. While it did appear that the cattle may have run out before the money did at certain sales last week, there is still a long way to go.

If the shed men get their needs satisfied now, the market may have settled by the time those with grass to graze come to take their place ringside.

Over the next few months, it will be interesting to see if supplies match demand and whether the later spring affects the trade.