‘I shudder to think what they’d make if the sun was shining’: mart trade eases

With many places again seeing periodic heavy rain last week, and little in the way of drying, the trade at the country’s marts eased back, just a bit, as those on all sides considered their situations.

The poor weather also saw more online activity as increased numbers of buyers chose the comfort of their Jeeps, cars or offices to do their bidding, either on their phones or computers as opposed to having to face into a day of ducking in and out the rain and wind in sales yards.

For those buying cattle last week, ringside returns show that among the bullocks, overall prices across the various weight divisions under 600kgs were back by between 2-8c/kg, with heifers over 400kgs down by 1-4c/kg.

These falls could be the thin end of the wedge however, should ground conditions not improve in the next two weeks.

With any cattle currently being bought almost certainly rehoused once they arrive at their new homes, they are putting extra pressure on fodder supplies and slurry storage capacity, meaning that the need to get stock out to grass to relieve both issues is vital.

These are serious problems and will affect the trade further if there is no improvement in ground conditions.

But with mart prices still strong, would taking a bit of heat out of the trade be such a bad thing?

Commenting on his trade last week, where 300-450kg Angus and Hereford bullocks sold close to €3.00/kg, Seamus O’Keeffe of Kanturk mart commented, “I shudder to think what they would make if the sun was shining”.

Up in Roscommon, Tony Conry also wondered how strong the trade might get given that, in his area, “The grass men are not really out yet”. Although trade in Ennis continued to be strong last week, with prices for forward types better by 5-10c/kg, your store cull cow and lighter heifer was reported as easier.

As we head into the traditional early year peak for mart numbers, where exactly is the trade for bullocks at in regard to prices?

Favour continentals

A look at last week’s ringside returns shows that for those buying bullocks under 400kgs, buyers continue to favour continentals, with their overall average price working out at €2.87/kg and with the better ones averaging €3.35/kg.

Hereford and Angus averaged €2.73/ kg last week with the top of the market averaging €3.04/kg. Your light Friesian bullock did not perform well however, averaging just €1.98/kg overall to €2.22/ kg for the better one.

In the 400-500kg section, your continental steer averaged €2.94/kg overall to €3.33/kg for quality lots, with better Hereford and Angus types averaging €3.05/kg off an overall average of €2.79/ kg and with Friesian averages ranging from €1.92/kg for poorer stock to €2.41/ kg at the top end.

Among the heavier bullocks, overall averages for continentals ranged from €2.88-2.95/kg with better quality lots averaging from €3.17-3.22/kg. Better Angus and Hereford steers averaged from €2.92-2.97/kg. While your better 500-600kg Friesian bullock averaged

€2.54/kg, the top end of the Friesian marketinListowelsawyourbetter600kg Friesian averaging €2.95/kg!

While heifer numbers continue to be limited in many marts, prices last week were broadly positive with those up to 500kgs gaining between 2-3c/kg overall, leaving your better continental on an overall average of €3.31/kg and working off an overall average price of

€2.91-2.99/kg.

Overall average prices for Hereford and Angus heifers under 500kgs ranged from a low of €2.32/kg to a top €2.97/kg. Above 500kg, continental heifers averaged from €2.72/kg for the poorer one to between €3.21/kg and €3.23/kg for the one you’d like to be bringing home, while top quality Angus and Herefords over 500kgs averaged from €2.97-2.98/kg.