Drought takes toll on prices as bullocks fall €50-60/hd

Milton’s line “they also serve who stand and wait” was quoted not once but twice by mart managers over the weekend.

While mart prices steadied last week, partially because of drought concerns, managers noted a lack of buyers.

“Some are just waiting for the mart to open before they buy again,” said Michael Harty of Central Auctions.

On the reopening, Michael said: “There’s no guarantee cattle will be cheaper or dearer but the drought has taken its toll, plus a lot of men have their cattle bought.”

Michael reckoned the hit on prices to be €50-60/hd week on week. The Ringside averages do show some of the bullocks back that €50-60/hd, with the better 400-499kg and 500599kg bullock dropping 13c/kg and 8c/kg respectively.

However, the continued stability in factory prices saw the overall average of the 600kg+ steer advance 7c/kg to €1.87/kg with lesser-conformation animals up 23c/kg. Those bottom-quarter steers also moved up significantly in the 500-599kg section, putting on 11c/kg.

Reports across the country also indicate that the cull cow market has improved, with some managers calculating that mart prices being paid for R-grades would require the factory price to be €3.30/kg to cover costs as opposed to the €3.00-3.10/kg being quoted by agents to farmers.

Part of the reason for this improvement, however, appears to be that there is a strong demand north of the border for good quality culls.

As to how we go from here, Gerry Finnerty of Ennis said that with marts reopening those expecting “the new normal to be like the old normal”, are in for a shock.

“Social distancing, restricted numbers of buyers, drop and go protocols for sellers this is where we’re at. If these are abused marts will close or be closed.”

Maurice Brosnan was among a

‘Social distancing, restricted numbers of buyers, drop and go protocols for sellers — this is where we’re at. If these are abused marts will close or be closed’

number of managers keen to credit the Department of Agriculture officials’ efforts in getting marts reopened, saying: “I’ve had my battles, we all have, but these are the lads who have to try make this work for everyone.”

On a separate topic, I’ve had reports of “excitement” breaking out around some online sales where the system takes as the final bid the one from a buyer who has previously not bid on the lot about to be knocked down.

The issue seems to be that when two final bids are the same the system appears to favour the newcomer.