Store trade under pressure

Marts: The store cattle trade has come under pressure in the marts, with up to 70/head being wiped off prices at the sales, which attracted smaller entries of livestock yesterday, partly due to farmers availing of the fine weather for farm work.

Following the pressure on beef prices, the trade for store cattle is also experiencing the worst week's trading in a long time as cautious buyers revised downwards the maximum they were prepared to pay for cattle.

Lower prices are being reported for all types of cattle, with up to 70/head of a reduction for plainer cattle, which have been the worst effected as poor quality Friesians dropped close to 1/kg and in a change to the regular pattern some lots went home unsold yesterday.

There was a tougher trade at Bandon, Kilkenny and Ennis Marts where the trend was the same with lower prices all round as buyers confidence has been shaken by the sharp downturn in beef prices.

There was a slightly larger sale of cattle at Bandon where there was an easier trade. The best of the continental bullocks made up to E300 over, but prices such as E900 for a 645kg Charolais or E765 for a lot of two Charolais weighing 500kg more typical of the top of the sale.

There were some quality heifers on offer which sold well at prices up to E217 over four Charolais weighing 493kgs made E710.

There was a smaller sale at Mountrath with more farmers concentrating on farm work in the good weather. Prices were back by up to E50/head with the quality continental bullocks making up to E320 over and stores topping at E270 over. Heifers ranged E120 to E250 over.

At Cahir Mart there was a quieter all round trade. Forward and medium weigh bullocks ranged E130 E260 over and heavy heifers made E120 E185 over.

Martin Ryan