Latest Mart Prices: 700 calves on offer in Bandon

Wed, 10 Feb, 2021 - 10:35

Denis Lehane

We head first for Bandon mart where restrictions remain for humans but clearly not for calves. The calf curve in Bandon is rising faster than I can sketch it. Bandon had 700 calves on offer on Monday, with numbers only going one way, up and up. Some super runner calves of the continental variety made over €500. The Friesian bull, in reward for braving the cold, made up to €195 a head.

Dry cows here sold from €50 to €445 with the kilo. Aberdeen Angus bullocks made from €260 to €600 with their weight. Friesian bullocks sold from €200 to €435 with their weight. Heifers at the sale on Monday made from €230 to €455 with their weight.

Bandon
Monday
No	Breed	Sex	Weight	€
7	Fr	steers	447kg	730
2	AA	steers	595kg	1190
3	Hr	steers	378kg	780
1	BB	heifer	475kg	930
2	BB	heifers	205kg	465
1	Hr	cow	745kg	1190
1	Fr	cow	755kg	1020

Kanturk

The biting cold on Tuesday morning did little to harm the trade at Kanturk mart as mart manager, Seamus O'Keeffe, reported.

"The Siberian chill in the air didn’t deter our customers here at Kanturk Mart with cattle numbers very high again this week. A total of 630 cattle were entered, including 170 calves and a 99% clearance was achieved."

Kanturk
Tuesday
No	Breed	Sex	Weight	€
4	Hr	steers	580kg	1040
1	AA	steer	470kg	930
5	AA	steers	341kg	750
1	Lm	heifer	515kg	1030
1	Fr	cow	725kg	1040
1	Fr	cow	750kg	1030
1	Fr	cow	695kg	990

Macroom

It's a long way from Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown estate in County West Meath, to County Cork's Macroom mart. But next Saturday the mart will be the venue for a complete clearance sale of the Lee Valley Aberdeen Angus Herd, owned by Pat and Edel O'Sullivan, who farm just outside Macroom, their top quality Angus herd comes with a strong Gigginstown stamp on it.

The exceptional O'Sullivan herd is bred from some of the top sires available. The herd's stock bull is Gigginstown Sword Play, a 5-star operator who should get the bidding finger tapping and the pulses racing in Macroom on Saturday.

Lee Valley Angus also contains bloodlines from the renowned Aberdeen Angus herds of Ben Ryall and John Appleby.

Three Charolais steers born Jan 2020 weighing 355kg that sold at Macroom Mart for €770 each.

The clearance sale on Saturday will consist of 12 purebred Aberdeen Angus cows with calves at foot, three in calf cows, all in calf to Gigginstown Sword Play. Also included will be 5 maiden pure bred Angus heifers also sired by Gigginstown Sword Play and 2, ten month old bulls off Gigginstown Sword Play.

Talking to Pat O'Sullivan earlier in the week, he told me that while he will be sorry to see the herd go, as he and wife Edel change their farming system, he will be keeping a particular eye on the Angus heifers on Saturday, which he feels deserve a bit of the limelight.

This clearance sale commences at 1pm, viewing time prior to sale, on line bidding via marteye. For details of the sale contact Macroom mart on 02641121.

And looking back to last Saturday's sale in Macroom, dry cows sold from €45 to €710 over the kilo. Friesian bullocks made from €1.60/kg to €1.80/kg. Aberdeen Angus and Hereford bullocks in Macroom sold from between €1.90kg to €2.15/kg. Continental bullocks sold from €2/kg to €2.25/kg. Heifers made from €2/kg to €2.60/kg.

And looking at weanling bulls in Macroom on Saturday, they sold from €2.20/kg to €2.80/kg.

Macroom
Saturday
No	Breed	Sex	Weight	€
5	AA	steers	522kg	1050
1	Hr	steer	510kg	1020
4	Fr	steers	380kg	650
2	Ch	steers	500kg	1080
1	Ch	heifer	515kg	1080
1	Fr	cow	795kg	1120
1	Ch	cow	825kg	1530

Kilmallock

630 stock, including 220 calves were on offer at Kilmallock mart on Monday last. "Calves continue to be a flying trade. With the cattle trade excellent at the moment," the mart reported. Bullocks here sold for up to €1210 a head or €2.28 per kg. Weanlings hit €980 a head or €2.74 per kg.

Dry cows made up to €1070 a head or €1.80 per kg.

Heifers sold for up to €1070 a head or €3.00 per kg. Young calves sold for up to €435 a head. Friesian bulls made up to €220 a head with lighter Friesian bulls making up to €100.

Dairy stock hit €1640 a head at Kilmallock on Monday.

Kilmallock
Monday
No	Breed	Sex	Weight	€
3	AA	steers	398kg	710
5	Fr	steers	387kg	680
2	Lim	steers	530kg	1210
3	Hr	steers	438kg	820
2	Lim	heifers	330kg	790
1	AA	cow	465kg	660
1	Fr	cow	590kg	850