Cattle marts report: Kilmallock sales were €1.5m on Monday, but buyers say store prices are easing
There is nothing I like better than to return home from a mart with some bargain in the back of the jeep.
But alas, my bargain hunting days are over for a spell.
And the calf trade, I’m sure, will struggle as it attempts to continue in my absence.
But in spite of setbacks we carry on — for carry on we must.
On Tuesday, I made my way to Kanturk mart, where over the past few weeks, the mart has seen an unprecedented supply of stock.
No Breed Sex Weight €
2 Sim steers 535kg 1235
6 AA steers 510kg 1195
1 Fr steer 595kg 1110
5 Hr steers 572kg 1250
2 BB steers 400kg 900
1 Fr cow 710kg 1210
1 Ch cow 590kg 1150
Last Tuesday, for instance, mart manager Seamus O’Keeffe told me that they had witnessed their biggest mart sale in over 20 years, with 2,200 cattle and calves on offer.
And again on this Tuesday, there was a good supply of stock, with Seamus having this to say after the trading had ceased for the day, “Today we had a smaller sale than last week, with 1,720 animals, which included 870 calves.
“Prices were the same for bullocks, with heifers and calves up on last week.
“Our dairy sale last Saturday was a great success, with up to €1,650 paid for young calved cows.”
In Bandon mart on Monday, the calves were still flying high.
Bandon had 1,510 calves on offer.
No Breed Sex Weight €
5 BB steers 576kg 1360
7 AA steers 443kg 1200
4 Hr steers 490kg 1170
8 Fr steers 376kg 790
1 Sim heifer 390kg 1020
1 Sim cow 915kg 1730
1 Fr cow 790kg 1360
The mart had 128 dry cows on offer, and they sold from €200 to €800 over the kilo.
Continental bullocks in Bandon made from €500 to €800 with the kilo.
Aberdeen Angus and Hereford bullocks ranged in price from €400 to €800 with the kilo, while Friesians sold from €300 to €750 with the kilo.
Heifers on Monday sold from €300 to €800 with their weight.
Dairy stock sold from €1,100 to €1,800, with Friesian maiden heifers making from €620 to €1,000 a head.
Kilmallock Mart on Monday was as busy as ever. The mart had 2,670 cattle (including 1,000 calves) on offer.
And with all five rings going at full tilt, the mart had a turnover of €1.5 million on Monday. Not a bad sum, after a day’s work.
Denis Kirby of Kilmallock mart told me on Monday evening that the mart saw a “flying trade for all types of cattle.”
Looking at the suckling trade in Kilmallock, a 6-year-old Belgian Blue and her Friesian and Hereford bull calves made €1,490.
A 4-year-old Aberdeen Angus and her Hereford heifer calf sold for €1,410.
And looking at dairy stock, a clearance sale of 28 dairy cows made up to a top price of €1,750, with €1,400 and upwards paid many times during the sale.
Breeding heifers sold for up to €890 a head.
And on this Friday, April 24, a Hereford bull sale takes place in Kilmallock, with 36 bulls on offer.
No Breed Sex Weight €
7 AA steers 399kg 950
1 Lm steer 390kg 920
5 Fr steers 303kg 600
4 Ch steers 500kg 1300
5 BB steers 540kg 1360
1 AA heifer 470kg 1040
1 Hr heifer 445kg 970
“We had an exceptional trade on Monday, with numbers of bullocks back a little.
“Calf numbers are still very high for the time of year, with the trade here a little easier,” was the report we got from Martin Ryan, mart manager of Thurles mart, after Monday’s cattle sale.
No Breed Sex Weight €
2 Sim steers 528kg 1310
6 Fr steers 289kg 630
5 AA steers 287kg 685
5 Hr steers 407kg 1035
3 AA heifers 353kg 815
6 Ch heifers 305kg 870
3 BB heifers 333kg 820
While the marts in general might be talking up the trade this week, those doing the buying have been telling me that prices for store cattle have eased just a little.
The trade for calves and fleshy dry cows remains strong, but the store animal has eased.
How much easing, you might wonder?
“Stores are back about €60 a head,” one beef farmer said to me, when I talked to him about the trade.
But of course, the demand is still very strong, with beef farmers particularly interested in the heavier store.
And the lighter store too is finding a home, with the last of the farmers in disadvantaged areas still out searching for a few head to cover any stocking density difficulties they may have.
In Skibbereen mart on Friday, dry cows sold from €100 to €660 with the kilo.
No Breed Sex Weight €
1 Lm steer 540kg 1380
4 Hr steers 398kg 975
3 Fr steers 341kg 750
3 AA steers 388kg 970
2 Lm heifers 332kg 840
1 Fr cow 810kg 1470
1 Ch cow 760kg 1420
Heifers in Skibbereen made from €280 to €800 with their weight.
Aberdeen Angus and Hereford bullocks ranged in price from €350 to €700 with the kilo.
Friesian bullocks made from €220 to €600 over the kilo.
Continental bullocks made from €400 to €850 with their weight.
Suckler stock in Skibbereen sold from €1,300 to €1,400 a head.
Dairy stock made from €920 to €1,420, with Friesian maiden heifers making from €920 to €1,420 a head.
No Breed Sex Weight €
6 AA steers 485kg 1240
3 Lm steers 580kg 1390
4 Ch steers 410kg 1130
2 Sim heifers 500kg 1110
1 BB heifer 410kg 1230
1 Lm cow 870kg 1600
1 Hr cow 555kg 1140
Macroom mart saw a good lively trade on Saturday, with prices remaining strong across the board.
And finally this week, we go to Ger Flynn, mart manger of Dungarvan cattle mart. Ger gave us this report after Monday’s cattle sale.
“We had a very big sale, with prices holding well for all types. We had a great demand for forward cattle and dry cows.”
No Breed Sex Weight €
6 Ch steers 599kg 1405
1 Hr steer 705kg 1450
4 AA steers 635kg 1385
1 Lm steer 685kg 1490
6 Ch heifers 433kg 1055
4 Lm heifers 436kg 1020
1 Fr cow 685kg 1080
