Double punched cattle in demand

Marts: Prices for forward double punched bullocks swept to new heights when up to €375 over €/kg was paid at the ringside in the west yesterday.

The flying trade for the heavy double punched bullocks at Athenry Mart, surprised mart manager Martin McNamara, with several lots in this category being knocked down to purchasers at prices above €300 with €/kg

So who is buying these cattle at such strong prices? Everyone around the marts sales rings over recent weeks knows that buyers for a small number of large stud farms have blown farmers out of the bidding in their drive to get enough stock to graze their lands or as the farmers prefer to express it “pay high prices for automatic lawn mowers.”