Kilkenny Mart – Sheep Prices – 09-01-2023

According to George Candler, a slightly larger entry of some 700 lots came under the hammer at Kilkenny Mart’s sheep sale on Monday, January 9^th, 2023.

The mart’s auctioneer reported that trade was back €4-€7/head at this week’s sheep sale.

Candler commented that “the fact that factory quotes are in the €6.00-€6.20/kg bracket is not encouraging for those who bought stores”.

He remarked that “sheep prices were disappointing, especially if you take into account the price of store lambs and the increase in feed costs.”

Candler stated that “it is difficult to see any dramatic lift in prices going forward in the next few weeks”.

Kilkenny Mart 09-01-2023

Butcher lambs – €2.60-€2.85/kg or €134-€156/head:

• 5 59kgs – €156;
• 4 56kgs – €153;
• 10 55kgs – €150;
• 16 53kgs – €148;
• 11 50kgs – €142.

Factory lambs – €2.75-€2.87/kg or €118-€135/head:

• 10 48kgs – €135;
• 10 47kgs – €133;
• 12 46kgs – €132;
• 11 45kgs – €127;
• 15 44kgs – €124;
• 22 42kgs – €122.

Store lambs – €2.60-€2.82/kg or €75-€110/head:

• 22 40kgs – €110;
• 11 39kgs – €109;
• 10 38kgs – €107;
• 10 36kgs – €100;
• 7 35kgs – €94;
• 7 29kgs – €76.

Other categories:

• Cast ewes – €75-€164/head.

Dairy prices:

• In-calf Friesian heifers – €1,300-€1,520/head;
• Freshly-calved Friesian cows and heifers – €1,300-€2,000/head.

Opening cattle sale of 2023

According to George Candler, just under 550 lots crossed the scales at Kilkenny Mart’s opening cattle sale of 2023 on Thursday, January 5^th.

The mart’s auctioneer reported that all lots met with an “excellent” trade, which resulted in a full clearance for cull cows and heifers, while 98% of bullocks found new homes.

Candler commented: “The top call for bullocks in Kilkenny was €2,200 for 848 kgs.”

“An indication of how well cull cows were selling was this sector recorded the top call of the day €2,430 for a continental which weighed 790kg or €3.08/kg.”

“Quality beef and forward Friesian store bullocks ranged from €2.35 to €2.60/kg, while continentals peaked at €3.20/kg and lighter types climbed to a top call of €3.30/kg,” Candler concluded.

Kilkenny Mart information:

• Address: Kilkenny Co-Operative Livestock Market LTD, Cillin Hill, Dublin Road, Co. Kilkenny
• Contact details: [email protected]or phone: 056-7721407 or see the mart’s website.

Upcoming sales:

• Sheep and calf sale – Mondays at 10 am with a dairy sale at 12 pm
• Cattle sale – Thursday – Cows at 10 am, followed by heifers, with bullocks at 10:30 am.

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