A week of highs and lows as marts are still feeling the effects of sweltering sunshine
Sir Anthony, once Ireland’s richest man, has by his own admission accumulated debts amounting to nearly €200m. In the High Court during the week AIB who are owed €22m claimed that the man was insolvent .
Those of us who try and make a living from beef farming are only all too aware of what it’s like to be short of money.
These days, with factory quotes too upsetting to report on this page, we are experts on the subject of empty pocket. And as it stands, the court heard Mr O’Reilly personally owes almost é200m.
When compared to Sir Anthony, us beef farmers are positively flying. So let’s start on a high this week. Let’s look on the bright side.
Our bank balance could clearly be a lot worse than what it is.
And so to the marts we go. I visited Kilmallock on Monday where I found a quiet affair.
Silage and hay making are still popular pursuits in the farming community. With the fine spell continuing, the marts just have to take the back seat for the moment. Kilmallock had 320 calves on offer on Monday with a “flying trade” reported here by Denis Kirby of Kilmallock mart. And I myself parted with a few quid in the calf ring on Monday, when I purchased a young heifer calf.
“She’s not guaranteed suitable for breeding,” the frank auctioneer stated before starting the sale on the month-old Friesian heifer.
I picked her up for €40. She may not be suitable for breeding, but for that money, so long as she was suitable for eating, I’ll be safe enough with my purchase.
The money was small, I don’t think I’ll end up in the High Court over my investments in Kilmallock. Elsewhere in the mart, bullock prices were reported to be up by about €150 a head on the previous week.
While dry cow and heifer prices were also said to have improved on last week.
Looking at dairy stock in Kilmallock, a three-year-old Freisian cow calved since Thursday sold for €1,310 while a four-year-old calved cow fetched 1070. Breeding heifers in Kilmallock sold from €430 to €610 a head. In suckling, a five-year-old Hereford and her Charolais bull calf made €1,300. While a thre-year-old Charolais and her Simmental heifer calf sold for €1,200.
No Breed Sex Weight €
3 Lim steers 385 kg 955
2 AA steers 358 kg 800
3 Fr steers 362 kg 595
5 Fr steers 517 kg 790
1 Ch steer 610 kg 1160
1 AA cow 485 kg 620
1 Fr cow 645 kg 800
In Bandon mart on Monday dry cows ranged in price from €50 under to €385 over the kilo. Heifers made from €200 to €535 with the kilo.
Freisian bullocks on Monday ranged from €150 to €250 over the kilo.
Aberdeen Angus and Hereford bullocks sold from €250 to €480 over the kilo, while Continental bullocks made from €300 over to €670 with the kilo.
Bandon mart had 500 calves on offer on Monday.
No Breed Sex Weight €
4 AA steers 401kg 880
7 Ch steers 497kg 1160
6 Fr steers 393kg 550
1 Sim steer 540kg 1010
3 Lm heifers 396kg 850
4 AA heifers 343kg 640
1 Fr cow 945kg 1330
There was an improved trade for bullocks in Corrin mart on Tuesday. Store bullocks in Corrin sold from €50 to €470 over the kilo.
Forward store bullocks made up to €540 over the kilo. There was a good steady trade reported for heifers.
Store heifers ranged in price from €300 to €400 over the kilo, with butcher types making from €350 up to €550 over the kilo.
Dry cows in Corrin sold from €650 up to €1,110 a head.
No Breed Sex Weight €
4 AA steers 430kg 875
5 Fr steers 760kg 1230
3 Lm steers 360kg 825
2 Hr steers 420kg 840
1 Ch heifer 486kg 1030
1 Sim heifer 412kg 880
1 Hr cow 770kg 1110
And, keeping things on the sunny side up, and looking on the positive side of the smaller sale, Kilkenny mart manager George Candler gave us this following report after last Thursday’s action.
“We may have had our smallest sale of the year today, but this helped to generate a much livelier trade,” George said.
“The trade was certainly up from what it has been over the past few weeks,” he added.
“There were simply more customers ringside for a limited supply.”
Friesian cull cows on view in Kilkenny sold from between €0.80/kg to €1.60/kg. With the continental cull cow ranging in price from between €1.30/kg to €1.90/kg.
No Breed Sex Weight €
1 BB steer 680kg 1540
1 Ch steer 775kg 1680
2 Lm steers 560kg 1050
1 Sim steer 470kg 820
2 AA heifers 480kg 970
1 Lm heifer 410kg 875
1 Sim heifer 450kg 1005
On Friday in Skibbereen dry cows sold from €30 to 445 over the kilo.Heifers here made from €240 to €600 over the kilo.
Bullocks in Skibbereen ranged in price from €290 to €560 with their weight.
No Breed Sex Weight €
2 Lm steers 545kg 1105
1 Hr steer 665kg 1100
2 Ch steers 547kg 1050
2 Sim heifers 597kg 1180
1 BB heifer 495kg 1020
2 Ch heifers 415kg 890
1 Ch cow 780kg 1225
Dungarvan mart on Monday saw a similar trade to the previous week with prices maintained.
No Breed Sex Weight €
1 Fr steer 740kg 1300
3 Lm steers 416kg 900
2 Lm steers 450kg 940
1 Fr heifer 625kg 1100
5 AA heifers 403kg 770
5 AA heifers 377kg 705
1 Fr cow 855kg 1020
And so finally it’s to Kanturk mart where on a hot sultry Tuesday evening Michael Scanlon gave us this following report.
“We had a very small sale of cattle today, due to the fine weather.
“We had a complete clearance with a good firm trade for all stock.” Kanturk mart had 150 calves on offer on Tuesday with Michael telling me they met with a flying trade.
No Breed Sex Weight €
4 Fr steers 505kg 720
2 AA steers 380kg 730
4 Ch steers 320kg 770
3 AA heifers 295kg 540
5 Hr heifers 320kg 630
1 Lm heifer 420kg 860
1 Fr cow 690kg 870
