Live export deal delivers another fillip to the trade

Some claimed over the weekend that the edge was beginning to go off Northern demand for heavy cattle at marts. Yet others I spoke with disagreed citing very strong competition for heavy cattle from smaller Northern processors and bigger wholesalers. I’m more inclined to think that as factory prices appear to be stabilising last week saw us reaching a plateau in relation to mart prices for beef.

A number of marts including Kilkenny and Mohill took the initiative last week and included special beef sections aimed at those in the slaughter or export sections of the business, as well as those who buy forward heavy stock for further feeding. Prices in general ranged from €2.00-2.30/kg for bullocks and heifers, with heavy cull cows ranging from €1.50-2.00/kg.

George Candler in Kilkenny commented that it was noticeable that while the number of potential sellers rose significantly because of their special sale, the number of cattle presented generally ranged from just one to three animals.

And it would appear from the Ringside returns from last week those who decided to encourage farmers to bring heavy cattle to the marts didn’t do the trade any harm at all as overall average prices for both 600kg+ bullocks and heifers improved.

Your 600kg+ bullock rose 3c/kg on average to €1.95/kg buoyed by a 7c/ kg increase in the price of your better conformation animal to €2.28/kg. The average price of your 600kg+ heifer rose 11c/kg and finished out the week on €2.15/kg, with the better sorts averaging 13c/kg higher at €2.40/kg.

While the bigger movements on the price table were restricted to those heavier animals, everything else also moved positively - though not by as much. On the bullock table everything below 600kgs averaged from 1-3c/kg while on the heifer table the overall average improvement below 600kgs was in the 3-5c/kg range. While it would be tempting to speculate that the big surge in prices and numbers has passed, as we round the corner into August those ringside will watch developments in relation to factory prices very closely

There is good news on the live export side this week, with the resumption of the live shipping of bulls from Cork to Libya by Curzon Livestock. A mixed load ofaround 2,000 Friesians and Continental bulls is due to sail tomorrow, Wednesday. The Friesians are reported to be in 200-400kg range, with the continentals averaging from 400-600kgs. Speaking with a source close to the action I was told that it is hoped to have another shipment organised in four to six weeks.

So with factory prices appearing stable, demand from Northern factories and wholesalers helping to buoy the heavy trade, and with the likes of Curzon Livestock going about the business of live shipping quietly and efficiently, what can possibly go wrong?