Coronavirus could affect short-term cattle trade

AUCTIONEER Michael Harty of Central Auctions, Roscrea, Nenagh and Birr thinks that the recent spell of cold and very wet weather has helped reduce mart numbers.

“I think sales are smaller in places because men won’t show stock until the weather improves. They know their customers will want to put what they now buy straight to grass if at all possible,” he said

Looking at the Ringside returns for bullocks last week, he could very well be right as average prices from 300599kg slipped by between 1-7c/kg.

The effect of the bad weather also hit the weanling trade as various continental sailings were cancelled.

This helped reduce mart prices for bulls by between 4-6c/kg overall, as shippers wait until they can move what they currently have on hands.

Also in the background are concerns over the effect the Coronavirus may have on the shipping trade. One agent I spoke with told me that he knows of lorry drivers who have expressed concerns about having to travel to northern Italy where the virus appears prevalent.

On a different note, Nelius McAuliffe of Dingle Mart has an interesting theory on where the trade for Friesian calves should be — had their shipping not also been affected by the recent very poor weather.

“Friesian bulls would be a better trade if the weather hadn’t stopped sailings,” he speculated. “Dairy men have moved some of their breeding down here to Angus and Hereford meaning there are not as many Friesians in the system as might be expected.”

At present better Friesian type bulls seem to be averaging from €60-100/ hd, with shipper types floating from €30-40/hd.

Returning to the Ringside tables for last week, the biggest hit to bullock prices came in the 600kg+ division with overall averages back 12c/kg or €72+/hd at €1.92/kg — the lowest average for those heavier steers since

Dairy men have move some of their breeding to Angus and Herford so there’s not as many Friesians”

the middle of January.

The heifer trade, by comparison saw the 350-399kg animal gain 18c/ kg overall last week and ended on an overall average of €2.35/kg, while the 400-499kg heifer gained 4c/kg before settling on €2.17/kg.

In both cases, the main drivers were the prices for the better animal. The top quarter 350-399kg heifer was up 27c/kg to €2.79/kg, while the better 400-499kg heifer averaged 13c/kg better at €2.17/kg.

Overall, the mart trade last week remained positive. However the major concern in the short to medium term may be the effect of the Coronavirus on the trade.