Trade quieter in the marts

Marts: Overall the trade was quieter in the marts where numbers on offer were either steady or up on last week at yesterday’s cattle sales.

Most noticeable is the widening in the price difference between the quality animals and plainer cattle which has now opened up at beef and store level.

Farmers are no longer buying a bullock to qualify for a premium and are factoring in to their purchasing price the wider price difference between quality stock and poor grading animals at the factories where there is an average of over €50/head between R and O grade and still more for the quality U-grade animal.

The plain Friesians are now becoming a hard sell at the marts with many selling back to €20-€30 over, while it is still possible to get over €100 over for the good British type Friesian, while the best of the continentals are still making up to €300 over for choice lots.

Bullocks were not as plentiful at Bandon Mart yesterday, where the trade remained solid for quality, but overall the tone of trade was quieter with less enthusiasm from farmers.

The heavy bullocks ranged €140-€200 over, lighter stores ranging €150-€270 over and some of the Friesians making back to €60 over. The trade was also quieter for heifers with the best of the continentals making up to €220 over. Hereford and Angus heifers ranged €70-€120 over.

Numbers on offer at Kilkenny were increased on last week with 510 head for sale. The heavy bullocks ranged €150-€260 over, bullocks in the 400-500kg range sold at €200-€300 over and the light stores made €150-€280 over. Four Limousin 482kg sold for €790, five Charolais 456kg made €685, six Angus 399kg made €555 and eight Herefords 365 sold for €630.

The beef heifers made €160-€240 over €/kg and stores sold at €80-€200 over.