Weather affecting store prices

The dry weather is continuing to have a significant influence on the trade for store cattle, particularly for the lighter and younger animals for which demand is weak.

The young stores were a hard trade at yesterday’s mart sales, where there was a brisk trade for forward heifers and a steady trade for beef bullocks. Grass supply is continuing tight on a majority of farms, which is weakening farmer demand for the younger stock at the marts. As a result, prices were mainly easier for light and plain animals with some of these now making poor prices.

There was a good entry of bullocks and heifers at Bandon mart where trade was similar to last week for the forward animals, with light stores a weaker trade.