In this week’s edition of Talking Trade, That’s Farming editor, Catherina Cunnane, reviews cattle prices in livestock marts over the last week.
Aurivo Balla Mart
According to Stephen Hannon, general manager of Aurivo Marts and manager of Balla Mart, just over 700 lots came under the hammer at Saturday’s cattle sale.
He reported that “while cattle numbers are dropping, trade is remaining steady, especially for lighter stores”.
Prices maxed out at €2,330 in the bullock ring, while sucklers fetched up to €2,950, heifers soared to €2,280, and cull cows hit €2,220.
Bullocks 300kg to 400kg averaged €3.18/kg, while stores in the 400kg to 500kg weight bracket levelled at €3.11/kg, while those 500kg stood at €3.11/kg, on average.
Quality, heavy bullocks 700kg+ made up to €1650 with the weight, with one BBX born in May 2021 weighing 670kg making €2,330 or €3.48/KG.
In the heifer ring this week, there was just over 200 head, with lighter stores of 300 – 400kg averaging out at €3.20/kg.
Meanwhile, heifers 400kg to 500kg averaged €3.01/kg, and those 500kg+ levelled at 2.99p/kg with a top call of €2,280 in this ring for a CHX, 770kg.
The third ring was in operation as usual for cows with prices to €2,220 for an April-2016-born 785kg CH.
Read more on this mart report on www.thatsfarming.com
Aurivo Ballinrobe Mart
According to Teresa Gibsey, assistant manager at Aurivo Ballinrobe Mart, prices ranged from €22 to €2,150 at its general cattle sale on Wednesday, May 17th, 2023.
Prices maxed out at €1,720 in the heifer ring, while cull cows sold up to €2,150, and suckler pairs maxed out at €1,560.
Meanwhile, bullocks soared to €2,040, calves topped at €260, and weanling bulls recorded prices to €1,370.
The mart’s special continental heifer sale saw prices range from €440 to €1,720 per head or €1.88 to €4.37 per kg.
The average for heifers 500kg plus was €2.85/kg, and heifers, 400 to 500kg, stood at €2.81/kg, of an average.
Cull cows made from €730 to €2,150 with the best price going to a farmer from, Hollymount at €2.42/kg with an 890kg Hereford-cross.
Suck calves were back in the mart’s main ring on Wednesday, with a full clearance reported by the assistant manager.
There was, in the words of Gibsey, a “magnificent” trade for bullocks, with prices reaching €2,040 or €4.41/kg.
Read more on this mart report.
Dowra Mart
According to a spokesperson for Dowra Mart, a “slightly” smaller entry of cattle changed hands on Saturday, May 13th, 2023, with just under 500 cattle.
They noted that trade was “steady; however, plainer cattle proved harder sold”.
At Saturday’s sale, dry cows topped out at €2,310 for a CHX weighing 800kg, while a LM stock bull fetched €2,700.
Meanwhile, a CHX bullock weighing 620kg made €1,930, while a CHX bullock weighing 590kg sold for €1,880.
In the other rings, a CHX heifer weanling weighing 365kg – €1430, while a CHX heifer weighing 610kg peaked at €1,990, and a CHX cow with a bull calf at foot found a new owner at €3020.
Read this full mart report.
Kilmallock Mart
According to a spokesperson for Kilmallock Mart, 1,450 lots changed hands this week, including 300 calves on Wednesday night and 170 organic lots on Saturday.
The spokesperson noted that “plainer cattle are back in price slightly, while nicer types and calves are flying”.
Bullocks sold for up to €1,760 each or €3.62 per kg, while dry cows hit €1,600 a head or €2.27 per kg, and heifers maxed out at €1,770 each or €3.02 per kg.
Meanwhile, dairy stock climbed to €1,700, and young calves peaked at €475.
Read more via this link.
Tuam Mart
According to Marion Devane, a “firm” trade prevailed at Tuam Mart’s general cattle sale on Monday, May 15th, 2023.
The mart manager reported that cull cows peaked at €2,380, while heifers maxed out at €1,560, bullocks topped at €2,510 and weanling bulls made up to €1,460.
See report with sample prices.
Other livestock mart-related news on www.thatsfarming.com
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- Gort Mart seeking commercially focused manager
- Second ‘Spring Superstars Sheep Sale’ to feature 8 breeders, 9 breeds, 66 lots
- Watret sets new price record of 32,000gns & matches female record of 30,000gns
See more mart reports on That’s Farming
