Improved trade at mart bucks trend
Dungarvan Mart manager Ger Flynn said the trade was much improved with a bigger sale of cattle this week, showing recovery in some of the drop in recent weeks. At the upper end of the market bullocks and heifers were showing an improvement of €40-€50/head.
While it is hard to identify a margin in animals costing over €300 with €/kg with the trend in the beef trade, there was a solid sector of mainly farmer buyers in the mart for these animals showing confidence in the trade for the remainder of the year.
The heavy quality bullocks made up to €300 over €/kg with a good run of cattle making €250-€300 over. Medium- weight bullocks in the range 400kg-500kg were not as strong in price or demand and ranged €70 over to €240 over. Heavy-quality heifers made up to €250 over while the light stores sold at €100-€180 over €/kg.
The trade at Kilmallock Mart - where numbers on offer were back on recent weeks - was described by manager Kevin Leahy as steady. He felt some farmers are holding back cattle, resulting in a smaller entry than expected for this week.
Medium-weight store bullocks were a little dearer at Kanturk Mart yesterday where they made up to €225 over and the lighter bullocks ranged €100-€220 over. Beef heifers made €120-€160 over and stores sold at €100-€140 over.
Trade at Fermoy Mart yesterday was described as steady, with 600 head on offer, and prices for beef peaking at €150 over, and medium-weight stores ranging €70-€225. Butchers’ heifers made up to €175 over.
