Minor rally in prices for Angus and continental store stock

As we move closer to December and numbers begin to reduce at the marts, farmer and feedlot demand continues to underpin prices. Indeed, prices for the better continental store and Angus types have moved up a notch or two.

“Prices have recovered and there was a bit more bite about the trade today with farmers needing animals and facing the prospect of smaller sales as the year winds down,” said George Chandler of Kilkenny Mart yesterday.

In Castlerea, increased farmer activity resulted in stronger prices for stock in general, while demand for breeding heifers from the suckler men saw their prices move considerably.

Down in Dingle, mart manager Neilius McAuliffe noted that Aberdeen Angus types continue to attract buyers leading to improved prices with upwards of €1.80-1.90/ kg now becoming more common.

Some mart mangers commented that stock which have been held outside are now showing the effects of the weather, but other marts saw a share of stock that had obviously been housed.

Regardless of physical appearance, bullock prices remained steady last week, while the trade for heifers bounced very nicely.

The biggest movers on the bullock side last week was the 400499kg store up 6c/kg or €24-30/hd.

Both the 500-599kg forward store and the light 300-399kg store moved up by 1c/kg on average.

This increase came not from better performances in the top quarter animal, but from increased demand among those lesser types in both divisions — 3c/kg in the 300-399kg section and 5c/kg ncrease in the price of those lesser types in the 500-599kg section.

The mart trade is never as cut and dried as the factory side.

On the factory side you are paid for the exact amount of kilos of beef on the scales, while on the mart side prices are calculated by those buying based on the perceived conformation of the animal in question, the animals’ possible future weight potential.

The only exact figure in the whole equation is the weight on the scales.

And it’s how some selling manage that weight that had me smiling at the weekend.

A manager, who wished to remain nameless commented: “There’s nothing like the round bale to make a bullock weigh like lead,” as he went down through a list of breeds weights and prices.

Returning to the price averages among the bullocks, the lack of any concrete movement on factory bullock prices saw the overall price of your 600kg+ steer slip by 2c/kg to €1.70/kg.

This was driven largely by a fall of 5c/kg to €1.38/kg in the overall price of the Friesian at this weight. Not helping those Friesians’ cause is the fact many continue to be 30 months plus.

The heifer trade by comparison was a different animal last week.

A combination of farmer fatteners and feedlot buyers were added to by a cadre of men intent on sourcing good breeding stock.

The result of all this activity saw overall average prices from 350599kgs rise by 6-9c/kg, with the better animal in each of the three weight divisions effected averaging from 8-13c/kg better.

The heavy factory 600kg+ heifer remained at €1.82/kg overall last week, with the better animal at this weight also continuing steady at €2.13/kg.

Regardless of physical appearance, bullock prices remained steady last week, while the trade for heifers bounced along very nicely