Beef price drop reaches live trade

Marts: The drop in beef prices over the past two weeks is now being passed on in the live trade at the marts where there was an easier all-round tone at most of the sales yesterday.

Plain Friesian type double punched forward store bullocks proved more difficult to sell as prices fell back to €/kg and weanling prices have eased for both bulls and heifers at the marts heifer prices feeling the pinch of pressure more than bulls.

Numbers of cattle were up at the marts yesterday with entries more likened to normal for early October than mid-September in a year of excellent weather.

A bigger entry of cattle at Athenry Mart yesterday, particularly in the bullock ring, met with a variable trade.

While prices were maintained for the quality continentals, plainer cattle were harder to sell. With a big increase in the number of Friesian type bullocks, prices for the forward double punched animals fell back to €/kg with the good Friesian making up to €100 over €/kg while the double punched continentals sold for up to €235 over.

Some of the plain single punched Friesian were bought for €20 over €/kg. Heifers were less affected and made up to €190 over for the choice continental.

A larger entry at Fermoy Mart met with a steady trade. Double punched continental bullocks making up to €155 over and up to €320 over, being paid for single punched.

There was a slight improvement in the trade for heifers at up to €155 over for butchers heifers.

There was a bigger entry of weanlings at Ennis Mart where the continental bulls sold from €330 to €370 over and up to €420 over €/kg for the tops.

There was a quieter trade for heifers at €70-€140 over €/kg.

Martin Ryan