More life in trade for final week of 2002
Quotes from the factories were firm or slightly improved on last week's prices but some plants were not showing their hand on price and there were some unconfirmed reports of strong prices being paid for underage cattle.
Supplies of young cattle appeared to be lighter than had been expected for the final week before the Christmas holidays and factories were having to pay a little more in certain areas. However, the pattern was not uniform across the country.
Some producers may be holding back on young cattle in the expectation of stronger prices after Christmas and others, who wanted to be out before the holidays, had moved ahead to avoid being unable to get the cattle killed this week the result was a light run of cattle yesterday.
Some are booked in for later in the week the first day after retention and a number of the factories were anxious to get cattle for the earlier days this week and have processing completed for Christmas.
Up to 249c/kg (89p/lb) was quoted at Exel Meats yesterday for underage R grade cattle with a drop of 14c/kg (5p/lb) for O grade.
The general run was around 243c/kg (87p/lb) for Rs and 235c/kg (84p/lb) for O grade but flat prices above the rates were paid for quality cattle where demand warranted in direct deals between producers and factories.
The trade for the older cattle varied from factories not taking in any over 30 months to those who were paying prices improved by up to 11c/kg (4p/lb) on last week.
The best price on offer was at Galtee Meats, where quality overage cattle over 400kg were being quoted at 229c/kg (82p/lb), but they were not taking any lighter animals over 30 months for this week's kill.
Fair Oak at Clonmel improved the quote for the older cattle to 224-218c/kg (80p-78p/lb) for R/O grade with an interest in getting fairly strong supplies for the week.
In Britain, the retail trade has been continuing well but the wholesale trade and supplies to catering are disappointing and are running below normal for the season.
In the marts yesterday there was a good steady trade for smaller supplies of cattle on offer at the final Monday sales for the year. It also marked the last of the Monday cattle sales at Bandon Mart where the weekly cattle sale moves to Thursday with the first cattle sale of 2003 taking place on Thursday, January 9.
Calf sales will continue to be held on Mondays in the New Year.
The forward bullocks with a premia made from 200 to 310 over yesterday and beef and butchers heifers made from 70 to 120 over.
Trade at Kilmallock was also strong. Forward single-punched bullocks made up to 360 over /kg and heavy heifers sold for up to 70 over.
