Place: Aberdeen Angus

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

The catalogue for Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Aberdeen Angus sale of bulls and heifers is online, with private farm-to-farm sales continuing during the Covid-19 health crisis. ‘We are selling at home from Gigginstown by appointment,’ said farm manager Joe O’Mahony.

farming

Michael O’Leary’s bulls and heifers still for sale, despite Covid-19

The 1,100-acre Gigginstown Estate, famed for its bloodstock as well as its livestock, is owed by Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary.

farming

Friesian bull calf back in fashion amid hopes of beef clouds lifting

food

Weekend food with Darina Allen: Delicious dishes with organic chicken

farming

The poor Friesian bull calf is like ‘nobody’s child’ in the marts

farming

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

farming

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

Exhibitors’ County Championship winners best in show and best in Co Cork

Two of the winners at last week’s Carbery Show in Skibbereen can claim they have the best beef bull and the best yearling gelding or filly in Co Cork.

Thu, 27 Jul, 2017

Cattle marts report: Store cattle drop by €60 per head at marts, as the three Fs have beef farmers floored

Store cattle — and bullocks in particular — have suffered a €60 per head price drop over the past two weeks.

Fri, 26 May, 2017

Cattle markets report: Off-farm income, only money source for hard-pressed beef farmers

I really believe that one of the greatest calamities to hit rural Ireland in my lifetime was our decision to go down the road of the ‘off-farm income’.

Thu, 30 Mar, 2017

Cattle marts report: Sunshine gives cattle a very desirable glow, putting an end to price slump at marts

The great St Patrick whose remarkable life we celebrate tomorrow, was a mighty man for looking after sheep.

Thu, 16 Mar, 2017

Cattle marts: Unlike Hollywood, no confusion among cattle traders in busy week at the marts

While the Oscar ceremony on Sunday night was nothing but a confusing mess, at the marts the scene is anything but confusing.

Thu, 02 Mar, 2017

Denis Lehane: TV’s ‘Farmer in Charge’ Maurice Walsh is at his happiest back on the land

Upbeat milk producer star of business makeover TV show says farmers don’t give themselves enough credit

Thu, 02 Feb, 2017

No shortage of dairy calf to beef system options

Current industry figures show that approximately 30% (340,000) of dairy calves (Friesian) are replacement heifers for the dairy herd.

Thu, 08 Dec, 2016

Cattle marts report: Marts feel Halloween chill as factory prices are a real horror story

In this week of Halloween, it seems the real horror stories are to be found at the beef factory.

Thu, 03 Nov, 2016

Cattle marts report: Ringside talk turns to need for timely farm payments as prices fall for plain animals

“We are seeing very large numbers of cattle appearing at our sale for the time of year,” Thurles mart manager Martin Ryan said to me after Monday’s cattle sale.

Thu, 29 Sep, 2016

Cattle marts: Demand from feedlot buyers helps to insulate mart trade from bad weather

We experienced more than our fair share of moisture at the start of the week.

Thu, 15 Sep, 2016

Cattle marts report: Smashing selection of suckler heifers steal the show on a lively day at Listowel mart

A little worse for wear, a bit like you or I might be after a spree in Lisdoonvarna, end-of-season bulls have now started to appear at the marts.

Thu, 11 Aug, 2016

Cattle marts: Friesian store bullock ‘best buy’ at the marts for those seeking to turn a healthy profit

The Friesian store bullock, a bit like David Cameron, has experienced a fall from grace this past week.

Thu, 14 Jul, 2016

The Two and a Half Tenors are outstanding in their field

It was Cork, first and foremost, that set Nyle Wolfe on his international singing career.

Thu, 14 Jul, 2016

Cattle marts report: Calm seas at marts as Brexit comes ashore, but will this picture hold in longer term?

All seems to be quiet in the marts this week. Perhaps “too damn quiet” as they say in the cowboy films, just before the Indians attack.

Thu, 30 Jun, 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

Cattle marts report: Springsteen brought good weather, good cheer and good sales across the cattle marts

“It was 22 degrees in the car when I arrived,” auctioneer Jim O’Brien mentioned to me before taking up his post in the main ring in Bandon mart on Monday.

Thu, 02 Jun, 2016

News Q&A: Open day at one-man, 100-cow suckler farm

Newford Farm, the 100-cow suckler-to-beef demonstration herd launched in 2015 and located in Athenry, Co Galway, will host a national open day on Wednesday, May 25.

Thu, 19 May, 2016

Cattle marts report: Big spenders pick up some impressive €980 Friesian stores and a €1,570 dry cow

The only regret I had in Bandon mart on Monday was that I’d didn’t have my cheque book with me.

Thu, 19 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

Beef market report: Tighter supply and late grass boost price outlook

The tightening in the supply of cattle to factories, and slight hardening in prices for them, are continuing this week.

Thu, 28 Apr, 2016

Cattle marts report: Cattle trade back to being an ‘adult only’ business as scholars return to their desks

There is a real sense of getting down to business at the marts this week. With the schools reopening after the Easter break, cattle marts are back to an adult-only audience.

Thu, 07 Apr, 2016

Beef market report: Little change as factories took in 32,900 head

There has been no change in prices on offer from processors for beef animals this week.

Thu, 03 Mar, 2016

Steady as she goes in the mart trade with none of the feared icebergs in sight yet

I’m not sure if it was thoughts of a lovely dinner, or of checking out the cattle trade, that had me travelling to Skibbereen mart on Friday.

Thu, 21 Jan, 2016

Price stampede feared as beef market braces for 80,000 extra cattle in 2016

Reports from last week’s Bord Bia Meat Prospects seminar indicate mixed prospects for each sector

Thu, 14 Jan, 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

Buyers get more bang for their buck at the marts as supply of cattle fat off the grass dries up

In the marts at the moment, buyers are looking for quality, buyers are looking for weight.

Thu, 03 Dec, 2015

IFA pay packages are top topic of conversation as marts start to get into festive spirits

As I jot down this week’s mart report I see the IFA now has effectively two Presidents. It’s like the Vatican with the two Popes.

Thu, 26 Nov, 2015

Trade remains strong at Bandon Mart despite foul weather

I went to Bandon mart on Monday as it really was a day fit for nothing else. A day for the high stool or the mart.

Thu, 19 Nov, 2015

Mood dampened by heavy rain, low sales and basic payment’s failure to land on time

Call it the Basic Payment Scheme, call it the Single Payment Scheme — call it what you like — but there hasn’t been sight nor sound of the thing on this farm as Wednesday, November 11, dawns.

Thu, 12 Nov, 2015

Restaurant review: Son of a Bun, Cork

Son of a Bun, 29 MacCurtain St, Cork, 021 450 8738.    

Sat, 31 Oct, 2015

Mart prices hold despite big entries as rain and cold end the Indian summer

Our good times on the land have finally come to an end. With the return of the rain, we are now in the midst of a colder snap and with grass getting less appetising, the party is over.

Thu, 29 Oct, 2015

Cattle marts report: Peace and Tranquility reign as fine weather keeps the trade buoyant in the marts

I went to Corrin Mart on Tuesday, not only to check out the livestock, but also to look at a bit of farmland that has suddenly come onto the market.

Thu, 15 Oct, 2015

Cattle mart report: Weanling heifers and bulls make good prices as sellers have upper hand at marts

I doubt if there is a sinkhole under the town of Macroom. For if there was, it would surely have opened up last Saturday afternoon, when Macroom Mart had one hell of a weighty sale.

Thu, 08 Oct, 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 marts report: Cattle weighing well and strong demand keeps prices buoyant on the marts

It wasn’t a great summer for hay making, nor was it a great summer for dairy farmers.

Thu, 24 Sep, 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

Busy on the farm, busy at Macroom mart

I went to my local mart in Macroom on Saturday.

Thu, 10 Sep, 2015

Cattle marts report: Friesian bounce signals recovery in mart trade for all but poorer quality animals

I went to Bandon mart on Monday last, and I didn’t go empty-handed.

Thu, 20 Aug, 2015

Cattle marts report: Winners few and far between in beef farming and the new National Lottery

I see the National Lottery have added two more balls to the drum, thus making the likelihood of me ever playing the lottery game all the more remote.

Thu, 13 Aug, 2015

Cattle marts report: Cattle numbers hold solid, prices are steady and bargain calves are as rare as hen’s teeth

Ever the optimist, I went to Dungarvan mart on Monday in search of a few cheap calves. But alas for me, I arrived too late.

Thu, 23 Jul, 2015

Cattle marts report: Despite traffic jams, stampede for quality cattle continues in Pamplona, West Cork

I headed to Macroom mart on Saturday morning, but unfortunately I had to endure Macroom’s rush hour traffic first, which stretched from Hartnett’s cross to the town itself.

Thu, 16 Jul, 2015

Cattle marts report: Steady sales as marts drive on, at a safe remove from global economic upheavals

The mad cow, the rain, the thunder, even the Greeks voting no, nothing it seems can put the breaks on the runaway train that is the high flying cattle trade.

Thu, 09 Jul, 2015

Cattle marts report: Good times for sellers but tough for buyers as every Friesian in the ring exceeds €2/kg

I had big plans for heading to Dungarvan mart on Monday. It has been a few weeks since I’ve touched down at the Waterford mart.

Thu, 02 Jul, 2015

Cork Summer Show attracted competitors from 18 counties

I had to give Rosemead Korona a slap on the back, at the Cork Summer Show last Sunday morning. 

Thu, 25 Jun, 2015