Marts Report: Brilliant trade for grass type cattle

Latest prices from Skibbereen, Macroom, Kanturk and Kilmallock.

Calves for sale at Kenmare Mart last Thursday

Cork Co-operative Marts has appointed two new managers.

Denis O’Donoghue from Kilmichael takes up the role at Skibbereen and Sean Dennehy from Carrigadrohid takes over the reins at Bandon. Both have great experience and are well capable of taking a mart by the scruff of the neck and giving it a good old shake — which I think every mart needs every now and then. I wish them well and wish the former manager at both Skibbereen and Bandon, Tom McCarthy, well as he embarks on a new career.

Some of the stock for sale at Kenmare Mart last Thursday.

And so to the marts, beginning at Skibbereen. After last Friday’s sale, new manager Denis O’Donoghue reported, “an excellent sale of cattle with a brilliant trade for grass type cattle.”

Dry cows here sold from €150 to €595 with the kilo. Aberdeen Angus bullocks made from €260 to €770 with their weight.

Continental bullocks in Skibbereen sold from €350 to €775 with their weight. Heifers at the sale made from €260 to €670 with their weight. Weanling bulls sold from €200 to €540 over their weight at Skibbereen mart on Friday.

Skibbereen
Friday
No	Breed	Sex	Weight	€
1	BB	steer	635kg	1380
1	AA	steer	770kg	1540
4	AA	steers	520kg	1240
2	Lm	steers	430kg	1070
1	Ch	heifer	490kg	1160
1	Fr	cow	905kg	1460
1	Ch	cow	695kg	1290

As you know, I keep a close eye on White House affairs as well as the marts.

It’s not too often I see a man falling up a stairs but, in fairness to President Biden, he held on like a trooper.

The stairs leading up to Air Force One might be paved with red carpet but it would still be a long way to fall if you lost your bearings. It might be best if President Biden stays away from cattle marts if he calls over to Ireland over this summer. Most marts have more steps than the Eiffel Tower, he’d be on his arse in no time.

Donald Trump never fell when he was President, even though many would have been more than happy to give him a nudge. Anyway, fair play to President Biden for staying upright. Safety first, it’s a lesson to us all, to watch our step.

And minding my own position, on to our next mart.

Macroom mart had a huge sale of cattle on Saturday. The trade was sky high. Dry cows sold from €125 to €810 over the kilo. Friesian bullocks sold from €1.60/kg to €1.80/kg. Aberdeen Angus and Hereford bullocks in Macroom sold from €2/kg to €2.40/kg. Continental bullocks sold from €2.20/kg to €2.50/kg. Heifers made from €2/kg to €2.40/kg. Weanling bulls in Macroom sold from €2.10kg to €2.70/kg.

Macroom
Saturday
No	Breed	Sex	Weight	€
6	Fr	steers	546kg	960
6	Fr	steers	292kg	490
7	Hr	steers	280kg	665
5	Hr	steers	505kg	1070
1	Lm	steer	635kg	1170
2	Ch	heifers	295kg	720
1	Fr	cow	545kg	850

Next to Kanturk mart and mart manager Seamus O’Keeffe for a report.

“We had a very big sale here at Kanturk Mart on Tuesday with 1,370 animals, including 670 calves, on offer.

“A great sale for all types of cattle, with the price of the day going to a special entry of 20 purebred Friesian heifer calves making €650 to €700 a head.”

A few calf prices from Kanturk on Tuesday that took my fancy were six Hereford bull calves, 28 days old, €350 each; four Aberdeen Angus bulls, 14 days old, €240; and a nice bunch of Hereford heifers, 18 days old, €260.

Kanturk
Tuesday
No	Breed	Sex	Weight	€
3	AA	steers	705kg	1430
6	Hr	steers	525kg	1100
8	Fr	steers	350kg	580
6	Hr	heifers	605kg	1230
8	AA	heifers	350kg	770
1	Fr	cow	740kg	1080
1	Fr	cow	680kg	980

Kilmallock mart reported “a strong trade, with the fine dry weather bringing out plenty of buyers this week.”

1,750 cattle and calves sold in Kilmallock this week. Bullocks made up to €1,360 or €2.58 per kg. Weanlings hit €1,090 or €2.61 per kg.

Dry cows sold for up to €1,780 or €2.10 per kg. Heifers made up to €1,180 or €2.70 per kg. Up to €400 was paid in the calf ring. Dairy stock made up to €1,820 on Tuesday, the top price was paid for a heifer.

In suckler cows in Kilmallock, a six-year-old Simmental and her Limousin bull calf made €1,760. A three-year-old Hereford and her Belgian Blue bull calf made €1400.

Kilmallock
Monday
No	Breed	Sex	Weight	€
2	Hr	steers	363kg	790
8	AA	steers	371kg	780
5	Fr	steers	540kg	980
1	Lm	heifer	330kg	820
6	Hr	heifers	327kg	650
1	AA	cow	470kg	860
1	Fr	cow	465kg	780

Dungarvan mart manager Ger Flynn reported after Monday’s cattle sale, “We had a big increase in bullock numbers, with prices remaining similar to last week. Lighter 300-350kg store bullock numbers are steadily increasing on last week with prices even firmer than last week. “We had a good demand for forward dry cows, and a solid heifer trade.”