Store trade continues to ease

Marts: The trade for store cattle continued the trend of earlier in the week easing back at the marts yesterday where prices for light cattle and plain animals were back by up to €25/head on last week.

The pattern was similar across the country with prices for better-quality cattle dropping around €10/head and lighter weights, plain cattle and Friesian-type animals losing up to €25/head.

While numbers at sales are now experiencing seasonal decline, demand for store cattle has eased with grass supplies on farms not yet having recovered from the effects of the prolonged dry spell.

Buyers are also starting to factor in the effect of the changes at the end of the year and taking back some of the loss of the slaughter premiums - worth €80 head - on cattle which are unlikely to finish to factory before the end of the year.

Bandon Mart’s had numbers similar to last week yesterday where the trade showed an easier tone with the exception of the punched-out heavy bullocks which continued strong.

Selling at €180-€320 over €/kg. Single-punched bullocks made up to €400 over - back a bit on last week - and a small entry of bullocks with clean ears sold for up to €400 over. The heifer trade was also easier, but the quality was still making good money at up to €260 over.

There were 620 head on offer at Kilkenny Mart yesterday where all bullocks were back at least €10/head and some of the plain cattle and Friesian- type animals took a heavier knock-on price.

The quality heavy single- punched bullocks made up to €431 over, but it was more difficult to get €400 over for animals under 400kg. Beef heifers made up to €338 for the tops and butcher’s heifers sold for up to €275 over.

In the west, clean-eared bullocks sold at €280-€470 at Athenry Mart. Young heifers made €175-€240 over.