Coursing: The Doolan family in Clarina, Co Limerick, can’t wait for tomorrow to dawn as they head to Clonmel for the National Coursing Meeting where their bitch Breska Lantern is favourite for the Oaks.

I mentioned last week that a lot of marts reported an increase in buyer numbers as men who’d been putting off buying returned ringside.

IFA’s ‘day of action’ on Tuesday, Oct 9, will highlight the squeeze on farm incomes, and send a message to the Government and the European Commission to support farming and rural communities with a full CAP budget, to retain national funding for income-related farm schemes, and to get a fair price from retailers.

THE directors of Sixmilebridge mart are confident that the community drive behind its reopening will also make it profitable in record time.

A NEW era in livestock sales began yesterday when a €17 million mart opened for business in Co Cork.

Marts: An increase in the supply of cattle to the factories has not been sufficient to dampen the upward trend in prices which are showing further gains with up to 6c/kg (2p/lb) more being offered for stock yesterday.

Marts: Beef prices continued the upward trend, making gains of 1-3c/kg, while the rate of price increase eased at the factories for last week’s kill.

GOLDEN Vale Marts says it will cut sales days at Rathkeale Mart because livestock throughput is insufficient to justify operating costs.

Marts: Beef prices came under pressure at the factories yesterday — the first sign of attempts by the processors to stall the upward trend of the year to date — with producers resisting cuts.

Marts: THE upward trend in beef prices has been maintained with gains of 4c-5c/kg (2p/lb) in the average price paid by the factories for stock for last weeks kill.

Marts: There was a drop in the number of cattle on offer at the mart sales yesterday — particularly for the heavy cattle — with a slightly sharper trade reported for beef animals.

Marts: The decline in average beef prices at the factories has almost bottomed out, as the intake of cattle shows the first signs of shrinking but the factories continued to pay a margin of up to 3c/kg (1p/lb) over the official quotes.

Marts: Although the factories continue to pay over the quoted prices for cattle, 6c/kg (2p/lb) has now been wiped off the average price in two weeks.

Marts: Beef prices have turned the corner in a positive direction for producers over the past week regaining most of the recent decline in returns from the factories for bullocks and heifers and boosting cow prices.

Marts: Consumer resistance in France to higher prices for meat — most varieties — has been confirmed in a survey showing lower volumes are being purchased by housewives as the price of the meat increases.

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.

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: There was no change in mainstream average prices paid by the factories for cattle last week, but minor downward adjustments are showing at the top end of the market, which may be early signs of an indicator of a ceiling on returns being positioned by the processors.

Marts: Lower lamb production and a strong domestic market has resulted in a decline of 5% in sheep meat exports for the first eight months of this year.

Marts: As the cattle sales wind down for the year, after a strong autumn trade, cattle numbers were variable at sales yesterday, while demand prices were fully maintained.

Marts: The overall trend in beef prices continued upwards at the factories with further gains of just under 2 cent/kg in the average for R4L bullocks for last week which brought the average paid to just over 105p/lb.

Marts: A strong export trade for quality weanlings is boosting the market which has got off to a record breaking start as the annual Weanling Shows and Sales get under way at the marts.

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: 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.

Marts: There was plenty of confidence among beef finishers to maintain prices for forward beef animals, but the same could not be said for farmers buying store cattle at yesterday’s mart sales.

Marts: Continuation of the gradual rise in beef prices delivered a top return of 112p/lb for bullocks and heifers at the factories last week, while a new record of 102p/lb was paid for cows.

Marts: Overall the trade was quieter in the marts where numbers on offer were either steady or up on last week at yesterday’s cattle sales.