Organisation: Charolais

Big Iverk prizes went south

West Cork exhibitors did well at last weekend’s 190th Iverk Show in Piltown, Co Kilkenny, monopolising the two All-Ireland Angus Bull Calf Championships.

Thu, 01 Sep, 2016

Cattle marts report: A bad day at the office for some of us, but 500kg animal is still fetching good money

“The days of the plain animal are well over,” cattleman Gene Daly said to me in Bandon mart on Monday.

Thu, 01 Sep, 2016

Farmers at Tullamore Show hear new ideas for EU agriculture

Organisers couldn’t have asked for a better 25th birthday celebration for the big midlands agricultural show.

Thu, 18 Aug, 2016

Equines and alpacas starred at Clonmel Show

There were equine stars a-plenty at last Sunday’s Clonmel Show, from the Garda mounted unit (on show alongside the armed response unit and the sniffer dogs), to the donkey derby, and Grand Prix showjumping (won by rider Micheal Pender).

Thu, 07 Jul, 2016

Marts report: Whopping €2,390 paid for Charolais bullock in Bandon, as bigger cattle sell well

While there was some good news during the week, with Turkey opening its arms to the live export of Irish cattle, in this house I was dealing with a live export of a different variety.

Thu, 23 Jun, 2016

Mid-Kerry’s re-booted mart at Gortatlea is efficient, no-frills operation

I went to Gortatlea mart in mid-Kerry on Friday, in the company of local farmer Paddy Flynn.

Thu, 17 Dec, 2015

Cattle marts report: Seller still in the driver’s seat, despite large entries at marts

I think it’s fair to say that I can now add weather forecasting to my long list of talents, having correctly predicted three weeks ago that the Ploughing Championships in Laois would pass without a shower of rain spoiling the affair.

Thu, 01 Oct, 2015

Cattle mart report: Plainer weanling prices get extra boost from strong farmer demand at ringside

Last week, I complained here that I could hardly go to a mart, because of the fine weather.

Thu, 17 Sep, 2015

Cattle marts: Small cattle are ‘near untouchable’ and calves fetch some exceptional prices

As May begins and summer officially gets under way, the farming situation is like this: silage ground cannot be sold, and store cattle cannot be bought.

Thu, 07 May, 2015

Cattle marts report: Strong prices for dairy stock point to post-quota confidence in the milk sector

Everyone was busy in Corrin mart on Tuesday. It was a big mart with big prices, with 2,000 cattle and calves on offer.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2015

Irish beef should not be allowed to follow beet into shadows, warns suckler farmer

I met a suckler farmer over the weekend who had strong views regarding the future of the beef producer.

Thu, 05 Feb, 2015

Reopening of US beef trade helps create market buoyancy, but old concerns persist

We are certainly going through some hardy mornings at the moment. Mornings where a shot of ‘easy start’ wouldn’t go astray, writes Denis Lehane. 

Thu, 22 Jan, 2015

Factories loosen purse strings for an upbeat Skibbereen fatstock show and sale

Isn’t it every farmer’s dream to one day be holding the halter of the winning animal at a fatstock show and sale? Of course it is! Sure what else do we dream about?

Thu, 11 Dec, 2014

Steady Kanturk sales set standard for a week of lively trading across the cattle marts

Kanturk mart held its annual fat stock show and sale on Tuesday, and I was there to enjoy the spectacle.

Thu, 27 Nov, 2014

The jingle of the single farm payment advance is loud and clear in the marts

The return to inclement weather over the past week has had little or no detrimental affect on the mart trade.

Thu, 23 Oct, 2014

Change in weather and dwindling grass bring cattle into the livestock marts

“You need to see those exporters’ hands waving when your weanling enters the ring,” said ICSA suckler chairman Dermot Kelleher last Saturday in Macroom, as we looked over a pen of weanlings.

Thu, 09 Oct, 2014

Beef and safety minister’s priorities

Beef and safety were Agriculture Minster Simon Coveney’s priorities in his opening address at last Sunday’s Tullamore Show and AIB National Livestock Show.

Thu, 14 Aug, 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

Stars of the tracks come out of retirement

Racehorse to riding horse classes at the big shows are bringing stars of the tracks out of retirement — andproving the durability of Irish thoroughbreds.

Thu, 29 Aug, 2013

Suckler farmer vows to keep standards high despite €15m cutback

Martin Coughlan hears why Dermot Kelleher is prioritising welfare of his herd despite scheme closure

Thu, 07 Feb, 2013

Heavier cattle dearer after icy roads hit supply

While the Government, the supermarkets and the processing sector this week awaited further developments in the horse burger saga, those whose livelihoods depend on the strength of the live cattle trade went about their business in the only way they could — as normal.

Thu, 24 Jan, 2013

Forward bullocks and Friesians lead mart price gains

I got a call just before 2pm last Tuesday from the Joe Duffy programme asking would I go on air to talk about that day’s IFA protest in Dublin.

Thu, 11 Oct, 2012

Mart beef animals

“We’re confident but need to improve,” and “Confidence has returned and the trade is improved” — similar comments from mart managers this week, first to sum up their counties’ prospects in the All Ireland hurling replay, and secondly to describe the mart trade.

Thu, 13 Sep, 2012

Impressive Cappamore beef double for Gubbins

An impressive show of beef animals at Cappamore Show saw William R Gubbins of Kilfinane, Co Limerick winning both the GVM All Ireland€ 2,500 Commercial Beef Championship and the commercial championship of the show.

Thu, 23 Aug, 2012

Reversal of fortune at Tullamore Show

They look lovely and last so long — well looked after dairy show cows come up shining year after year, with top winners from 2010 taking the red rosettes again last Sunday at Tullamore Show.

Thu, 16 Aug, 2012

Beef price pull has marked effect in marts

Although this summer’s horrendous weather has brought great difficulties for the farming sector, the recent price pull of 25 cent at the factory gates has had a far more marked effect on the mart trade, this week.

Thu, 19 Jul, 2012

Red and white Holstein claims victory at show

Cork colours did well at last Sunday’s Clonakilty Show — with a red and white Holstein winning a top championship.

Thu, 14 Jun, 2012

Sunshine or not, cattle prices are high in the mart

In the course of putting this week’s report together, I had one man from Cork say, “The sun is shining, grass is growing and cattle are dear,” — which just about sums up the mid-June trade across the country.

Thu, 14 Jun, 2012

Local wins for national achievers

Their achievements at Bandon Show last Sunday hold out promise of another good year for top national exhibitors Seamus Lehane and Ricky Barrett.

Thu, 24 May, 2012

Golden Vale Marts prize won by Limerick breeder

ONE of the top awards in the cattle section at Cappamore Show in Co Limerick was kept in the county.

Thu, 26 Aug, 2010

Home-bred qualifier wins top title

THE prestigious Limerick Lady title was won last weekend by John McLoughlin, Falduff, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, with his home-bred qualifier at Westport Show, by Grosvenor Lad out of Falduff Lady.

Thu, 26 Aug, 2010

Dan’s racer shows up again

THEY say you can take a white horse anywhere, but it seems Midleton horse trainer Dan Rohan can take his bay mare anywhere and win.

Thu, 24 Jun, 2010

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

Prices rise by up to €30/head

Marts: Trade for the heavy and forward animals continued with a sharper tone to the demand pushing prices upwards by up to €30/head at yesterday’s live sales at the marts.

Fri, 25 Jul, 2008

Midleton breeder John O’Grady makes it four out of five county beef bull championships

FOUR of the last five Cork county beef bull championships at Carbery Show have gone to Midleton breeder John O’Grady.

Thu, 24 Jul, 2008

Strong trade for heavy cattle

Marts: The heavy cattle continued in strong demand at firm prices at yesterday’s mart sales, where the lighter stores continued under some pressure particularly for the plainer lots.

Fri, 18 Jul, 2008

Bay gelding a winner at summer show

A THREE-YEAR-OLD bay gelding won the young horse championship for a Limerick exhibitor at Cork Summer Show.

Thu, 26 Jun, 2008

Large opening sale at Fermoy

Marts: There was almost 1,000 cattle for the opening sale at the new Cork Marts sale centre at Rathcormac (Fermoy) yesterday. The new mart has replaced the 50-year-old mart in Fermoy town.

Wed, 25 Jun, 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

Forward store prices soaring

Marts: Prices for forward store cattle reached a seasonal peak at the mart sales yesterday with up to €800 over being paid for choice lots as farmers competed for stock.

Fri, 16 May, 2008

Larger sales of cattle at marts

Marts: The number of cattle on offer peaks for the season at the marts yesterday where the trade was maintained for quality lots, while the plainer cattle were an easier trade.

Fri, 25 Apr, 2008

Fancy prices for continentals

Marts: Producer confidence in beef is driving trade for the heavy beef animals to record heights as they edge up and up, as a result of competition and tight supplies on offer at the live sales.

Fri, 04 Apr, 2008

Cattle prices remain steady

Marts: Prices were maintained for most categories of stock at yesterday’s sales, the exception being the plainer store bullocks for which demand was a little quieter and prices tended a shade easier than last week.

Fri, 29 Feb, 2008

Price gains in lively trade

THERE was an all round lively trade with further gains for producers at the marts yesterday where the entry of stock continued to increase.

Fri, 22 Feb, 2008