Organisation: Aberdeen Angus

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

farming

Covid-19 restrictions are now hurting us more than the virus

5,000 can protest Monday, no one can go to a mart Tuesday.

farming

Our fickle calf trade clearly depends on weather for exporters

farming

Praise for ‘tremendous confidence’ of weanling exporters and farmer buyers

farming

Marts holding ground in spite of factory slippage

farming

The Friesian bull calf rises to the occasion, as mart prices go up, along with numbers

farming

Many times burned, now shy, after sobering adventures in calf buying

Restaurant review: Going back to basics at Woodside Farm Market Stall

THOUGH a serious gourmand, The Dentist is done with all that ‘Michelin palaver’. “It bores me,” he says. “Review something that EVERYBODY eats, like fish and chips, or burgers.”

Sat, 09 Jun, 2018

Demand builds as grass buyers finally get busy at the mart

This week, it really feels life is zooming by. We are all busy. Between farming and confirmations. Between religion and our calling to the land, we haven’t a moment to spare.

Thu, 17 May, 2018

Cattle mart reports: Top grade cattle to be auctioned as Kanturk Mart is rearing to raise funds for Rickie

Fellows at this time of the year can often be found complaining that they have the world of trouble to contend with.

Thu, 01 Feb, 2018

No pressure when it’s the mart doing the selling, so all I need to do now is relax

I don’t know about you, but I seem to be getting more and more nervous about selling cattle with every passing year.

Thu, 03 Aug, 2017

Good money paid for good cattle on a busy day in Macroom mart

Ryanair boss and Angus breeder Michael O’Leary was right to ask for “a sensible question” on RTÉ Radio 1’s Liveline last week.

Thu, 27 Jul, 2017

Cattle buyers keen for stock on offer as some traders opt to make hay while sun shines

I met up with an Aghabullogue farmer by the name of John at a funeral recently, and he — with great reverence — told me that he heeds my every word on this page regarding cattle market trends and predictions.

Fri, 23 Jun, 2017

Cattle marts report: In-calf heifer sells for €5,100 at top quality Gigginstown House annual Angus sale

Angus heifers and bulls were flying high at Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Angus Sale on Saturday last.

Thu, 20 Apr, 2017

Cattle marts report: A week at the marts, where the clever money was on the Friesian bullock

If you were one of those clever cattle buyers who has been snapping up handy store Friesian bullocks for €200 with the weight over the past fortnight, I salute you.

Thu, 13 Apr, 2017

Marts in mourning over the passing of Willie Slyne, a legend among cattlemen

It would be remiss of us, in the business of covering mart reports, if we didn’t mention the recent death of the well known and well respected cattleman, Willie Slyne.

Thu, 16 Feb, 2017

Calves steal spotlight, but Donald might say they’re as overrated as Meryl Streep

It’s not every day that I agree with Donald Trump.

Thu, 12 Jan, 2017

Cattle mart report: Macroom’s charity event demonstrates true meaning of the season

Macroom mart really shone on Saturday. From the sale of a horse to the sale of cattle, from celebrity auctioneering to face painting.

Thu, 15 Dec, 2016

Breeders frustrated as beef prices stay low despite ‘supply glut’ failing to materialise

I took a few cattle to the mart at the start of the week — purely for research purposes, of course. Honestly, sometimes I wonder do I take my job of giving you an accurate account of the mart trade far too seriously?

Thu, 06 Oct, 2016

Cattle marts: Heavens smile down upon a sunny week for buyers and sellers at busy cattle marts

I threw on my coat, fully prepared as I headed out the door, bound for Kilmallock cattle mart on Monday morning.

Thu, 08 Sep, 2016

Cattle marts report: Stronger price for the stronger store, even if Turkey trip for cattle looks less likely

Having spent last week giving out about the poor trade in the mart for light store cattle, this week found me at the mart selling light store cattle.

Thu, 21 Jul, 2016

Cattle marts report: Friesian bullock sold for €1,610 but suckler farmers concerned over autumn trade

So as we chalk down the first six months of 2016, how do we stand in the cattle business?

Thu, 07 Jul, 2016

Cattle marts report: Personal touch sees Gortatlea cattle mart grow its business by 50% in a single year

I’d say there were more Cork fellows back in Gortatlea mart on Friday than there were up in Thurles on Sunday. And I’m sure they had a better day out to boot.

Thu, 26 May, 2016

Cattle marts report: New Minister is top topic of conversation as farmers shoot the breeze at busy marts

It was all about Michael Creed in Macroom mart on Saturday last, with talk as to what kind of Minister for Agriculture he might make.

Thu, 12 May, 2016

Cattle marts report: Top price of €4,400 and not an empty seat at Gigginstown ‘Ryanair’ Angus sale

From Skibbereen to Gigginstown, it has been quality all the way at the cattle sales.

Thu, 28 Apr, 2016

Cattle mart report: Put the squeeze on the yearling, or the mart buyer will put the squeeze on you

I looked at my cattle today while wearing my boots. It was the first time this year that I was able to venture into the field wellington free.

Thu, 21 Apr, 2016

Cattle marts report: Small beef farmer is the fall guy as buyers focus on large animals

As you well know at this stage, I’m a glass half full man, rather than a glass half empty. Indeed so long as I have any drink at all, I’m happy.

Thu, 14 Apr, 2016

Cattle marts: Demand for cattle with overcoats as farmers brave rainfall to attend busy marts

On our farms right now many cattle are spending a good deal of their day backed up against a sheltered ditch.

Thu, 31 Mar, 2016

Cattle marts report: Prices and weather showing signs of picking up as focus moves to the fields

I find it very hard to believe that you will have any great interest in reading this mart report today.

Thu, 17 Mar, 2016

In fond memory of Terry Wogan, legend among mart reporters

Not many people know this, but the late Terry Wogan began his broadcasting career on RTE radio dishing out the cattle mart report.

Thu, 04 Feb, 2016

Top 8 burgers tested

A FEW burgers in the freezer means we can create a feast in a few minutes.

Sat, 16 Jan, 2016

Mart tales wing their way along electronic route from Singapore to Skibbereen

You can thank the man from Singapore this week that you have a mart report to peruse. But for the man from Singapore, you could well be looking at a blank page.

Thu, 10 Dec, 2015

A bull trumps Nidge and All Ireland tickets in Kerry school raffle

It’s that time of year again, when you can’t go into your corner shop without coming out with a raffle ticket in support of the local school.

Fri, 30 Oct, 2015

Most sellers happy to say Yes as strong mart market continues for most cattle

I sold a few bullocks in Bandon mart on Monday, in my ongoing efforts to keep the wolf from the door.

Thu, 22 Oct, 2015

Cattle marts report: Serious trading done at regional marts as buyers travel from all corners of the country

On Tuesday morning, in a state of utter confusion, I found myself in Lissarda village. You see, I didn’t know whether to turn right for Corrin, or left for Kanturk.

Thu, 25 Jun, 2015

Steady trade in cattle, it’s business as usual down at the marts as BSE scares subside

After the recent BSE scare, I figured this week there was really only one way of finding out how the marts were coping, and that was to take a few cattle to the mart myself.

Thu, 18 Jun, 2015

Steady sales at marts despite farmers being busy making silage while the sun shines

I have to admit that I’m finding it increasingly difficult to be in any way negative about the mart trade these days.

Thu, 28 May, 2015

Cattle marts report: Mart trade going well but may need milder weather to maintain buyer confidence

The first person I met in Bandon mart last Monday morning was former mart manager Pat McCarthy, promoting the virtues of the Hereford breed.

Thu, 02 Apr, 2015

Agri events

Today, March 26

Thu, 26 Mar, 2015

Steady prices mean good news continues at the marts, at least for those selling

The cattle and calf trade at the marts this week remains very strong. Or in the words of Kilkenny mart manager George Candler, “the good news continues, at least for the sellers.”

Thu, 26 Feb, 2015

Cattle markets: Excellent spring sales and healthy bidding help put traders in mood for romance

Last Friday, in a last desperate bid to find a suitable Valentine’s Day present for my wife, I went to Skibbereen mart in the hope of securing that perfect gift.

Thu, 19 Feb, 2015

Solid demand holds for quality animals, despite the distraction of events elsewhere

Some might question the wisdom of piecing together a mart report on this very eventful week.

Thu, 25 Sep, 2014

A week of highs and lows as marts are still feeling the effects of sweltering sunshine

I thought things were right bad in the beef farming world, until I heard the news regarding former media tycoon Tony O’Reilly.

Thu, 26 Jun, 2014

Positive cattle trade at Dungarvan mart

I took myself off to Dungarvan mart on Monday morning. And in fairness to me, I made a conscious decision not to mention the match that had taken place the previous day.

Thu, 12 Jun, 2014

Seasonal jump in cattle numbers and buyer activity

The conclusion of the GAA championships and the National Ploughing usually heralds a watershed in the cattle business — and this year is no different.

Thu, 04 Oct, 2012

Cattle entry confirms Cappamore quality

THE reputation of Cappamore Show as a shop window for quality cattle was underlined at this year’s event, when exhibitors came to the Co Limerick event from as far away as Donegal.

Thu, 28 Aug, 2008

Rivalry was keen at Bandon

THERE was keen early season competition in the various horse and cattle classes at Bandon Show last Sunday.

Thu, 22 May, 2008

Junk food ads ban to cost burger giant £100m

The ban on advertising fast food aimed at children could cost Burger King up to £100m (€148.9m) in UK sales next year, it was reported today.

Wed, 27 Dec, 2006

Aberdeen Angus boost in fast food restaurant chains

ABERDEEN Angus cattle farmers are set to benefit from extra sales through Burger King’s 11,100 restaurants around the world.

Thu, 21 Dec, 2006

Dungarvan show whets the appetite

A GREAT show of sport horses at Dungarvan last Thursday whetted the appetite for this week’s RDS Dublin Horse Show.

Thu, 05 Aug, 2004