Store Trade steady for forward bullocks in Marts
In the weanling/yearling trade the margin between bulls/bullocks born pre- and post-May 1 2003 (the latter not being eligible for the 21 months SBP before it expires on December 31 next) is continuing at €70-€100/head.
Cattle numbers were similar to last week at Bandon Mart yesterday where the trade continued firm. The heavy bullocks with a premia sold for up to €390 over €/kg while the lighter stores made up to €350 over.
Four single punched Herefords weighing 603 kgs sold for €990, four 385kg single punched Simmentals made €730, and three Simmentals with clean ears weighing 360 kgs sold for €780.
There was a very good trade for the fancy Continental store heifers and some of sold for up to €210 over €/kg. Lighter lots made up to €160 over.
There was 900 head on offer at Ennis Mart yesterday, an increase on last week, and the firm trade was maintained.
Trade was strong for a bigger offering of punched out bullocks. The heavy Continentals were in strong demand and sold from €300 over to €370 over with the Herefords and middle range Continentals making €180-€250 over.
In the single punched section some of the heavy choice Continentals made up to e500 over, with the bulk of sales in the range €380-€420 over and back to €280 over for the medium weights. The heifer trade continued strong with heavy heifers making up to €240-€280 over.
At Kilkenny Mart the trade for bullocks was maintained and heifer prices were improved by €5-€10/head. The heavy Continental double punched bullocks made up to €280 over, heavy stores with a punch sold for up to €406 over and lighter lots topped at €343 over. The beef heifers made up to €268 over and stores from €170 over to €220 over.
