Farmers adjust weanling prices
For the first time in the weanling trade, some of the male animals being offered at this year’s sales will carry no entitlement to Special Beef Premia, and all other male weanlings will be curtailed to about 50% of previous years’ entitlements, and any weanling, male or female which will not be slaughtered before the end of December will forgo the Slaughter Premia.
The first indications of the adjustments which producers are making for the loss of up to €540 in premia and extensification entitlements in the life of male animals emerged at marts this week, but it will be at least another month before the market settles to provide a clearer picture of the losses weanling producers are facing.
There was a larger offering of weanlings at Ennis Mart this week where 500 head were on offer and prices were being adjusted according to the status of the animals.
Good Continental breed bulls, with entitlement to the 9 month premia before the end of the year ranged from €320 over €/kg to €360 over. Continental bulls - with the first premia drawn and no further entitlement to premia - sold from €200 over €/kg to €280 over. A lot of two punched out Belgian Blue’s 310 kgs sold for €572, a Charolais 320 kgs made €550 and a lot of three Charolais 414 kgs sold for €702.
There was very little change in weanling heifer prices from last year - heifers are losing a lifetime entitlement of €80/head in Slaughter Premia - with prices ranging €180 over €/kg to €200 over, but this could not be taken as setting the autumn trade as a number of shippers were competing with farmers at the sale.
