Mart sales flying high, and hopes reopening of US market could further boost prices
It’s not grass we have out in them fields, it’s frost.
The trade for store cattle in the marts at present is absolutely flying, there is a summer feel to the sales, the mood is upbeat. And all this positivity is fuelled, I suspect, by a belief that the winter is as good as over. And also there are high hopes that America will fall madly in love with Irish beef.
Well as far as the winter is concerned, it’s far from over, even Met Éireann were stressing this point during the week. And as for America? If America does fall in love with Irish beef, you can be sure it will be with Larry Goodman that the love affair will be conducted. We will be lucky to get a kiss on the cheek.
So in a week that celebrates Valentine’s Day, let’s not be getting too passionate for cattle at the mart.
I went to Corrin mart on Tuesday and met mart manager Sean Leahy. Sean agreed that the store trade is flying high, and as we talked three Friesian store bullocks appeared in the ring weighing 391kg and they eventually sold for €790. Now, to my mind, that was super money for year old Friesian stock. If I had been the seller I would have been dancing a jig as I left the mart.
And looking at the heifer trade Sean had this to add,
“The demand for heifers has been good since early January. The trade has been particularly good for fat, and nearly fat heifers, with factory agents, wholesalers and butchers eager to secure quality meat.”
The calf trade also remains strong — Corrin mart had 400 calves on offer on Monday.
And in the last week Cork Marts have started exporting Friesian bull calves to Spain and Holland.
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Trade in all rings in Kilamllock mart was described as “mad” on Monday with Denis Kirby adding that “cattle and calves are €100 to €180 dearer than this time last year.”
The mart had 1,487 stock, including 500 calves on offer. In all, 247 buyers from as far away as Co Tyrone were purchasing stock, with the majority staying on the Island of Ireland.
Bullocks here sold up to €2.55 per kg, with Friesians hitting the €2.00 per kg mark. Heifers hit a high of €3.32 per kilo.
Dry cows went to a high of €1.95 per kilo.
Calves are selling well in Kilmallock with Northern Ireland, West of Ireland, Midland and local farmers competing big time for calves. Exporters bought a small number on Monday but are reporting that prices are too high for the export market.
Looking at dairy stock in Kilmallock, a three-year-old Friesian springing to an Aberdeen Angus sold for €1,470, while another three-year-old — calved since February 5 — made €1,420.
In suckling, a five-year-old Simmental and her Charolais heifer calf €1,860. A five-year-old Charolais and her Charolais heifer calf made €1,610. A two-year-old Belgain Blue in-calf heifer time up May to Limousin sold for €1,400.
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In Bandon mart on Monday dry cows sold from €150 to €655 over the kilo. Heifers sold from €360 to €710 with their weight.
Continental bullocks made from €550 to €800. Aberdeen Angus and Hereford bullocks ranged in price from €450 to €670 with the kilo. While Friesians sold from €365 to €615 with the kilo. There were 800 hundred calves on offer in Bandon on Monday, with prices holding well.
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In Dungarvan mart on Monday the cattle trade remained strong across the board.
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And next we move to Kilkenny mart, where mart manager George Candler gave us this report after Mondays calf and dairy sale.
“All calves sold very well on Monday with lots of customers. Continental calves were very scarce. An AA bull recorded the top call of €430. Dairy stock met a phenomenal trade, with a rise of €250 to €300 per head on last weeks returns. Freshly calved heifers peaked at €1,900 with in calf lots selling up to €1,720.”
And looking back to last Thursday’s general cattle sale George added: “We had another sharp trade for cattle on Thursday with 640 cattle on offer. Cull cows reached heights that appeared impossible a few months ago.”
And in Kilkenny on Monday Friesian cull cows sold from €1.35 to €2.05 per kilo, with continental cull cows making from €1.60 to €2.37 per kilo.
“Beef heifers peaked at €2.70 per kilo, with light store bullocks going to €3.25 per kilo,” said George Candler.
“The tight numbers are helping to generate a fast selling trade with the sale concluded by 1.30pm. We need more cattle to cater for the present day demand.”
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In Skibbereen on Friday dry cows sold from €60 to €570 over the kilo. Heifers here sold from €350 to €800 with their weight.
Continental bullocks made from €450 to €750. Aberdeen Angus and Hereford bullocks ranged in price from €450 to €700 with the kilo. While Friesians sold from €300 to €755 with the kilo. Sucklers in Skibereen made from €1,000 to €1,570 a head.
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And, staying in Cork, next we go across to a quite positive Macroom mart.
After Saturday’s encouraging cattle sale, Macroom mart manager John O’Mahony gave us the following report: “We had an increase on numbers this week with, once again, an excellent trade for all types of stock across the board.”
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And finally for this week, we turn to Kanturk mart where Michael Scanlon gave us another very encouraging report for farmers.
“We had a huge sale of cattle at today’s Kanturk sale with top quality stock up for grabs,” said Michael. “A large entry of calves met a lively trade with buyers from all over the country present.”
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