Talking Trade: A snapshot of cattle prices in mart this week

In this week’s Talking Trade on www.thatsfarming.com, we take a look at prices in cattle marts across the country.

Aurivo Balla Mart

According to Stephen Hannon, numbers were “slightly up” at Aurivo Balla Mart on Saturday, July 29^th, 2023, with circa 500 lots crossing the scales across two rings.

Headlining the sale at €3,760 was a 2018-born LMX cow out of CHX dam with an April-2023-born BB4438 (Belgian Blue AI bull from Dovea Genetics) daughter, with a combined weight of 1,010kg.

The general manager of Aurivo Marts and manager of Balla Mart reported that “bullock prices were slightly up despite inclement weather conditions and factory prices”.

Bullocks 300kg to 400kg averaged €2.89/kg, while store bullocks 400kg to 500kg levelled at €2.86/kg and heavier bullocks north of 500kg changed hands for €2.74/kg on average and overall, quality, heavy bullocks 700kg+ made up to €1,300 with the weight (over the kg).

In the heifer ring, some 200 head lots came under the hammer, and they were “slightly up” on the previous week.

Store heifers, 300 – 400kg, averaged €2.94/kg, while those in the 400kg to 500kg weight bracket levelled at €2.95/kg, while entries 500kg+ sold for €2.86/kg, on average, with between €3.00-€4.00/kg for breeding-types, according to Hannon.

Top of the town at 490kgs was a BBX that made €2,300 or €4.69/kg, while a 380kg BBX sold for €1,790 or €4.71/kg.

Cows, with larger numbers on offer than in previous weeks, were sold after bullocks, and stock bulls in ring one.

According to Hannon, “There was a good sale of dry cows, which, in general, made from €2.40/kg to €2.70/kg”.

“Prices are sticking firm with interest from Northern Ireland buyers online, with highs of €2,250 or €2.76/kg for an 815kg LMX,” he concluded.

Read more on this mart report, which contains sample prices.

Dowra Mart

According to a spokesperson for Dowra Mart, a similar-sized entry of cattle crossed the scales at its most recent general cattle sale on Saturday, July 29^th, 2023.

They reported that just over 300 cattle changed hands at the sale, “and overall, cattle were a bit harder sold, except for top quality lots”.

Dry cows soared to €2140 for a CHX weighing 825kg, while a LM bull made €2020, bullocks topped at €2,090 and heifers made up to €1,660.

Cull cows over 700kgs:

• CHX – 825kg – €2140;
• BBX – 800kg – €2130;
• LMX – 795kg – €2050;
• LMX – 770kg – €2000.

Stock bulls:

• LM – 950kg – €2020;
• CH – 955kg – €1940;
• CH – 950kg – €1880.

Hefs over 500kgs:

• CHX – 585kg – €1660;
• LMX – 580kg – €1650;
• CHX – 560kg – €1620;
• CHX – 560kg – €1600.

Over 700kg bullocks:

• HEX – 810kg – €2090;
• AAX – 800kg – €2040;
• HEX – 780kg – €1910;
• AAX – 725kg – €1860.

Read more on this mart report.

Tuam Mart

According to Marion Devane, a “resounding” race week trade prevailed at Tuam Mart’s cattle sale on Monday, July 31^st, 2023.

Cull cows pushed to €1,880, while heifers hit €1,840 and bullocks topped at €1790.

Bullocks:

• A pair 327 kg HEX by a Glenamaddy farmer made €970 (€2.97/kg);
• 390 kg LMX by a Headford farmer made €1260 (€3.23/kg);
• 410 kg LMX by a Headford farmer made €1390 (€3.39/kg);
• 470 kg CHX by a Kinvara farmer made €1360 (€2.89/kg).

Cull cows:

• 685 kg LMX by a Knocknagur farmer made €1880 (€2.63/kg);
• 645 kg LMX by a Corrandulla farmer made €1740 (€2.70/kg);
• 695 kg CHX by a Dunmore farmer made €1760 (€2.53/kg).

Heifers:

• 440 kg LMX by a Knocknagur farmer made €1290 (€2.93/kg);
• 470 kg LMX by a Knocknagur farmer made €1360 (€2.89/kg);
• 525 kg CHX by a Beaugh farmer made €1450 (€2.76/kg);
• 575 kg CHX by a Foxhall farmer made €1680 (€2.92/kg).

Read more on this mart report.

Note: 

At the time of publication, we have been advised that the following mart sales not taking place this week:

• Aurivo Balla Mart – No general cattle sale on Saturday, August 5^th, 2023;
• Aurivo Ballinrobe Mart – No cattle sale on Wednesday, August 2^nd; sheep sale on Thursday, August 3^rd, 2023;
• Loughrea Mart – Re-opens on Tuesday, following the sudden passing of manager, Jimmy Cooney;
• Headford Co-operative Livestock Mart – no cattle or sheep sale on Saturday, August 5^th, 2023;
• Tuam Co-operative Livestock Mart – no sale on Bank Holiday Monday, August 7^th, 2023; sheep sales resume as normal on Tuesday.