Firm trade but fewer buying

Marts: The live trade was unchanged at the marts where larger numbers of cattle were on offer at yesterday’s sales.

There were fewer farmer buyers at some of the sales for the medium and light weight store bullocks. This is reflective of the tight supply of feed on many farms which along with the increasing cost of bought-in feed is leading farmers to carefully measure feed supply and stock levels.

Certainly there was no indication of any easing in the demand for the forward bullocks and heifers or the prices being paid for the heavy stock with up to €500 over €/kg at yesterday’s marts.

There was an increase in the number of cattle on offer at Bandon Mart, where similar to last week the trade remained very strong for all types of stock. The forward bullocks sold for up to €245 over with back to €180 over the plainer cattle. The light stores ranged €150 — €230 over.

The heifer trade was very similar. The best of the continental heifers sold for up to €255. Heavy heifers in general sold at up to €200. Store heifers ranged €120 - €160 over.

There was 400 head on offer at Kilkenny — an increase on last week — and while prices were very strong for beef and heavy bullocks and maintained for other types — there was a noticeable absence of farmer buyers from the ringside yesterday.

The heavy bullocks ranged €200 — €455 over, the forward bullocks making €200 - €390 over and lighter stores ranging €180 — €320 over. A Simmental 702kgs sold for €1,155, a continental 678kgs made €1,085, and €1.040 was paid for a 694kgs Charolais.

Beef heifers were a strong trade at up to €340 over, while the store heifers peaked at €260 over.

Blessington Mart experienced a strong trade with beef bullocks making up to €500 over and forward stores selling for up to €400 over. The lighter stores peaked at €305 over. Beef heifers sold for €200 — €305 over and stores ranged €150 — €260 over.