Heavyweights recover but poorer quality stock are still being clobbered
TWO weeks ago the heavens opened and wet ground became saturated in many places, resulting in a mini glut of cattle descending on marts as farmers looked to lighten the load.
The result was a fall in the price of plainer stock by between €70-90/hd. The main victim in terms of this price trimming were Friesian and Friesian cross bullocks with the Hereford and Aberdeen Angus also taking a hit.
A week on and despite the weather turning predominantly dry, the ringside reports continue to show an awful lot of red ink across much of the bullock section and all of the heifers.
The mart managers over the weekend reported a continuation of strong to very strong numbers.
A good number also reported the active involvement of sea- sonal buyers who until now had been “sitting on the fence” as John O’Hanlon of Ballymahon commented.
Another trend noted by George Candler of Kilkenny is that increased numbers are allowing buyers to become more selective and this has seen the poorer quality animal being punished.
However, everything over 500kgs on the bullock table got a boost as both feeders and factories got stuck in.
While factory prices continue to slide, if you’re a winter finisher the recent fall in mart prices comes as a help to your business.
Winter feeder competition helped the 500-599kg bullock recover 2c/kg or from €10-12/hd of the €60-72/hd it had lost previously. It’s not a big amount, but confidence and prices take time to firm up.
The 600kg+ section regained 5c/kg or €30/hd of last week’s €48/hd fall.
Moving down the weights to the 300-399kg division we find that while the overall average price at this weight is back a bare 1c/kg on average, the average price of your bottom quarter bullock got clobbered by 12c/kg or €36-48/hd.
This is in keeping with reports I had that poorer quality, lighter stock were the hardest sold of all categories. In terms of price your bottom quarter 300-399kg Friesian is the worst on the table at €1.17/kg, giving him range from €351-467/hd. PHOTO: ROGER JONES