Beef bullocks drop €35/head
Beef bullocks and plain stores were the worst affected with heifer prices showing lighter losses on the day’s trading at some of the centres, while experiencing similar price losses to the bullocks at other locations.
Numbers of cattle on offer were broadly similar to last week, but there was certainly less optimism about the future of the trade among the buyers at the ring sides as prices experienced the largest single day decline in several months.
Numbers of cattle on offer at Bandon mart were similar to last week. The exception of the day prices held reasonably on par with last week except for the plain cattle which were easier. The heavy store bullocks ranged €190 to €350 over, the lighter lots making €160 - €300 over and Friesians ranging €100 - €170 over. There was a good trade for heifers at prices ranging up to €55 over for the quality heavy heifers.
There was over 700 head on offer at Kilkenny Mart where beef bullocks were back by up to €35/head and stores lost up to €20/head. The heavy beef bullocks ranged up to €300 over for top quality. Forward stores maintained prices better, selling at €240 - €390 over - a lot of 10 477kg Charolais sold for €865 and a lot of six Charolais weighing 469kg made €825 and a Limousin 460kg sold for €790. Beef heifers made up to €340 over and stores up to €220 over.
All bullock prices were back at Ennis Mart where there was a bigger sale this week. Prices for beef and forward cattle dropped by up to €35/head, with the lighter stores not feeling the effect of the downward pressure as much. The trade for heifers was slightly easier than last week with the tops making up to €330 over.
At Blessington Mart prices for bullocks and heifers were all back by up to €30/head.
