Drop in supplies on offer at sales

Marts: The only change in the live trade in the marts for the opening days of this week has been the drop in supplies on offer at the sales, which is now experiencing the seasonal drop-off in numbers.

However, there is little change in the strength of the prices which have marked the store trade over the past three months, which set a new record on prices for store cattle being purchased for finishing off grass.

Yesterday there were some heavy bullocks ranging 500-600 kgs with both premia still available on offer at Kanturk Mart, where they sold for up to €580 over €/kg, which is still better value than similar weight single punched animals, which sold for up to €450 over €/kg. Contrast those prices with the €250-€360 over which was paid for double punched bullocks and the maze of measure value for money becomes even more difficult. There was also a strong trade for store heifers which sold for €200-€260 over €/kg. Forward double punched bullocks sold for up to €450 over at Fermoy Mart, where the heavy bullocks with a premia left made up to €515 over and clean ears bullocks sold for €300-€465 over €/kg. Up to €260 over was paid for store heifers.

The demand for calves and improvement of up to €40/head in the marts can only be attributed to an urge to get calves before the phase-out of the premia entitlements. The last round of calves entitled to a premia are now going through the marts calves with registered births post May 31 2004 qualify for no premia payments with the first of the "no premia" calves will be arriving in the marts soon. At Fermoy, Continental bulls made up to €410/head and Hereford bulls sold for up to €455/head.

The Continental bulls made up to €445/head at Kanturk, where up to €400/head was paid for Friesian bulls and Herefords sold for up to €405/head.