Marts Report: 2021 numbers hitting 95% of 2020 levels

Latest mart prices from Bandon, Macroom, Dungarvan and Kilmallock

At Skibbereen Mart last Friday, this Belgian Blue bull calf (22 days old) sold for €400.

Wed, 24 Feb, 2021 - 11:00

Denis Lehane

On Monday Bandon mart had 1,250 calves on offer with farmer buyers doing most of the purchasing.

Strong Friesian bulls on Monday made up to €250 a head. Dry cows here sold from €100 to €500 with the kilo. Bullocks made up to €650 with their weight. Heifers sold from €500 to €660 with their weight.

Bandon
Monday
No	Breed	Sex	Weight	€
2	AA	steers	530kg	1070
2	Fr	steers	500kg	940
3	Hr	steers	386kg	755
1	Lm	heifer	640kg	1300
1	AA	heifer	590kg	1160
1	Sim	cow	755kg	1240
1	Fr	cow	705kg	1090

And whatever about the Taoiseach's promises on Tuesday evening that the "end is now truly in sight" with regards to Covid, the marts have certainly shown great resilience throughout the whole lockdown saga.

Department of Agriculture figures show mart throughput during this time of lockdown is almost on a par with this time last year, when we were as free as the wind. Just ever so slightly down, with cattle numbers for Jan/Feb 2021 hitting 95.5% of 2020 levels.

And with prices also holding firm, it seems it would take a lot more than just some old pandemic to rock the livestock boat.

At Skibbereen Mart last Friday, this Hereford bull calf (22 days old) sold for €415.

Numbers were up at Macroom mart on Saturday with prices remaining firm. Dry cows in Macroom sold from €20 to €510 over the kilo. Friesian bullocks made from €1.60/kg to €1.85/kg. Aberdeen Angus and Hereford bullocks in Macroom sold from between €1.95kg to €2.25/kg. Continental bullocks sold from €2.10/kg to €2.35/kg.

Macroom
Saturday
No	Breed	Sex	Weight	€
7	Fr	steers	571kg	1070
5	Fr	steers	307kg	530
6	AA	steers	500kg	1030
3	Hr	steers	490kg	990
1	Lm	steer	575kg	1350
1	AA	cow	785kg	1290
1	Ch	cow	750kg	1260

Dungarvan mart manager Ger Flynn gave us this report following Monday's mart sale: "Cattle are slow to come out resulting in a very strong trade particularly for quality lots of Angus bullocks and heifers.

"A very good trade for smaller weanling types with a good demand from up-country buyers. Forward dry cows are in strong demand with a steady trade."

The next calf sale in Dungarvan mart takes place today Thursday 25th Feb. Intake from 10am. The sale will start at 12 noon sharp and is live on www.livestock-live.com in ring 3.

Dungarvan Mart will also hold a calf assembly service on Friday between 10.30am and 12 noon. Export type Friesian calves and beef bred calves required. Price on inspection. Booking is essential. Call the mart on 058 41611.

Dungarvan
Monday
No	Breed	Sex	Weight	€
4	AA	steers	460kg	950
5	AA	steers	394kg	830
5	Fr	steers	467kg	810
3	Lim	heifers	486kg	1040
3	AA	heifers	456kg	930
1	Fr	cow	635kg	790
1	Hr	cow	755kg	980

More than 1,000 cattle and calves were sold at Kilmallock on Monday. 125 buyers purchased stock online with the mart reporting "a very strong trade."

Bullocks here sold for up to €1360 a head or €2.26 per kg. Weanlings hit €1050 a head or €2.74 per kg. Dry cows made up to €1250 a head or €1.85 per kg.

Heifers sold for up to €1070 a head or €2.23 per kg.

Looking at dairy stock in Kilmallock, a two and a half year old calved heifer sold for €1640. Sucklers made up to €1300 (paid for a 12-year-old Charolais and her Limousin heifer calf).

Kilmallock
Monday
No	Breed	Sex	Weight	€
5	AA	steers	376kg	800
1	Hr	steer	385kg	730
6	Fr	steers	296kg	510
2	Lim	steers	630kg	1240
2	AA	heifers	340kg	740
1	Sh	cow	480kg	890
1	Fr	cow	490kg	740