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

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.

Looking down through my notes on the week in the mart trade, I noticed one mart had significant numbers returning home unsold, while another saw prices lift, as dealers took profit on stock purchased previously at another sales ring almost 200 miles away!

YOU know that déjà vu feeling of “I’ve seen this before” but can’t quite remember where or when?

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.

Marts: Despite the partial closedown of farm trading and processing yesterday in support of the IFA protest in Dublin over the WTO threat, there was a good show of cattle at Bandon mart, where prices were a shade easier than last week.

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.

A FIRM trade was maintained at the marts yesterday, particularly for the heavy and forward bullocks with heavy heifers also meeting with brisk demand.

Marts: There was a brisk spring-like trade for stock, which sent prices moving upwards by up to €25/head for choice lots in strong demand for all types at yesterday’s sales.

The live trade continued on a very firm tone for forward cattle and all quality lots at the marts, where numbers of cattle on offer continued to increase yesterday.

Marts: Friesian bull calves, suitable for export, made gains of up to €40/head at yesterday’s sales as an active presence of shippers increased competition.

Marts: The live trade was very firm with improvements of up to €10/head at yesterday’s sales where the numbers of cattle on offer recovered from the downward effect of last weeks weather in some parts of the country.

Marts: The live trade has continued firm for all types of cattle at the marts, but the fall off in the attendance of farmers looking for cattle is also evident, although it has not effected the prices being paid, with plenty of demand for the smaller entries at the sales.

Marts: There was an improved trade for beef and forward lots of bullocks and heifers at the marts yesterday where the entries of cattle continued strong.

Marts: The trade for store bullocks eased back a little — prices for quality forward cattle were maintained — while heifers were an improved trade at the mart sales, where there were big offerings of stock at all sales yesterday.

Marts: Prices were maintained at smaller sales of cattle at marts yesterday as farmers took time off to attend the National Ploughing Championships at Tullow, Co Carlow.

Marts: A larger showing of cattle at the mart sales is not deterring an improved trade for beef and forward stores with further gains at yesterday’s sales particularly for quality.

Marts: There was an improved demand for finished beef cattle, while demand for stores was also stronger at the marts sales yesterday where there was an increase in the supply on offer at some centres.

Marts: There was a livelier trade for bullocks and heifers at mart sales yesterday where there was a bigger attendance of customers for the small entries of stock on offer.

Marts: Cattle sales were among the lowest of the year at the livestock marts yesterday where the trade for heavy animals was maintained and stores were a difficult trade.

Trade for beef cattle was easier as the lower prices at the factories was passed down the line at yesterday’s mart sales.

Marts: Cattle prices were back €20 — €40/head at yesterday’s mart sales — losing most of the recovery earlier in the week — as demand eased with fewer farmers present at the sales.

Marts: There was an improved trade for store bullocks at yesterdays sales at the marts.

Marts: A continuation of the improvement in the live trade yesterday with strong supplies on offer has set store cattle prices for a strong end-of-year finish for 2003.