More customers than cattle

Marts: There were two shades to the livestock trade across the country yesterday, with demand outstripping supply for forward store cattle at the marts, while sheep producers are very disappointed with the factory trade for hoggets, which continues sluggish.

At the cattle sales there were more customers than cattle at some of the sales, such is the demand for forward store cattle suitable for finishing within a month or two to benefit from the expected strong trade for scarce beef.

Mart managers are also reporting a steady stream of phone calls from farmers looking for cattle, while numbers on offer at the sales are continuing low as the trade builds continues to rebuild after the Christmas break.

Over €400 with €/kg was paid for heavy bullocks at Fermoy Mart yesterday where there was a small sale of 220 head. The forward store bullocks ranged €200 over to €340 over and medium stores sold for €160 over to €335 over.

Butchers heifers ranged €170 over to €305 over and the forward heifers sold for €160 over to €285 over.

There was also a small sale at Kanturk yesterday where the forward bullocks sold for €220 over to €315 over and the forward lots made €250 over to €300 over.

The export market for Irish sheepmeat to the continent remains very sluggish with the supply from Britain at very competitive prices, continuing to seriously effect the trade in France.

The supply of Irish lamb on the market is remaining small and selling for around 380c/kg (136p/lb).

In Britain, prices on offer to producers have exceeded 100p/lb for the first time since last August, increasing to 102p/lb, equivalent to 312c/kg inc Vat at which level it is undermining Irish exports.

Base prices at the factories continue to disappoint producers at 354c-355c/kg. In the marts the domestic demand is continuing to underpin the trade for butchers lambs at up to €44 over this week, with factory lots making €20 over to €28 over.