Stronger beef and store trade

Marts: There were more farmers buying cattle for the grass yesterday, and a stronger presence of Northern Ireland buyers, which helped to maintain the trade of quality cattle, but the poorer lots remained a hard sell at weaker prices.

Demand for beef animals continues to push prices with gains of up to €40/head, with the brisk trade for quality store bullocks pushing prices upward by up to €50/head and a flying trade for cows at yesterday’s sales, where the number of cattle on offer showed further increases. The highest reported price of the day was €675 over €/kg paid for a Limousin heifer at Kilkenny. The 685kg Limousin sold for €1,360. - nice one, but very much the exception.

At Ennis, where the cow trade was described as “an absolute flyer”, €438 over was paid for a Charolais. Weighing 772kg, she sold for €1,210 - not far from prime beef price. There was a bigger sale at Bandon Mart - especially in the heifer section - with the quality bullocks a brisk trade. Heavy bullocks ranged €220-€430 over and lighter lots made €200-€310 with Friesians ranging €70 to €220 over. Up to €400 over was paid for the tops of the heavy continental heifers, stores making €150-€240 over.