Mart Prices This Week
In this week’s Talking Trade article, That’s Farming editor, Catherina Cunnane, takes a look at prices across livestock marts over the last week.
This week’s coverage includes reports from Aurivo Balla Mart, Blessington, Castlerea, Dowra and Kilmallock – you can read more mart reports via this link.
Aurivo Balla Mart
According to Stephen Hannon, bullocks reached €2,090, heifers topped at €2,000 and dry cows made up to €2,450 at Aurivo Balla Mart on Saturday, July 8th, 2023.
Two rings were in operation at the mart’s most recent general weekly cattle sale, with numbers holding steady on previous weeks.
The general manager of Aurivo Marts and manager of Balla Mart told www.thatsfarming.com:
“A lot of cattle out were out again, especially store types, and there were some great prices paid, with a blend of ringside and online activity.”
In ring one, bullocks 300kg to 400kg averaged €3.01/kg, while stores in the 400kg to 500kg weight bracket levelled at €2.98/kg, and heavier bullocks 500kg averaged €2.71/kg.
According to Hannon, “quality, heavy bullocks 700kg+ were making up to €1,450 with the weight”.
Blessington
According to a spokesperson for Blessington Mart, a small entry met with a “steady trade across all classes”, especially for stronger bullocks and heifers, on Thursday, July 13th, 2023.
Feeding cows pushed from €320 to €550 over the kg, while beef cows changed hands from €560-€1,000 over the kg.
Meanwhile, in the bullock ring, beef types varied from €1,060-€1,240 over the weight, while continental stores fetched from €540-€1,040 over and Hereford and Angus stores climbed from €480-€860 over.
Elsewhere, continental store heifers changed hands from €520-€1,060 over, while Hereford and Angus store heifers traded from €420-€880 with the weight.
Carnew Mart
According to David Quinn, a smaller entry of just shy of 668 cattle and 105 calves crossed the scales at Carnew Mart on Saturday, July 8th, 2023.
The mart manager reported that a “very lively” trade prevailed throughout with a “noticeable” demand for beef and forward stores from feedlot and factory agents.
Quinn commented: “Farmer customers were on fire paying up to €3.35/kg for quality stores ready to go to grass.”
“Exporters were on hand to buy heifers and bulls with great shape between 300kg – 450kg with up to €3.34/kg paid for a PT bull.”
“In summary, it was a better trade with demand for all types of cattle,” Quinn added.
Castlerea Mart
According to Brendan Egan, “good numbers” of stock crossed the scales at Castlerea Mart’s most recent cattle sale on Thursday, July 13th, 2023.
The mart manager reported that the bullock ring witnessed lots making up to €1930, while the heifer ring topped out at €2200 and dry cows made up to €2240.
Meanwhile, the weanling rings saw bulls peak at €3.53/kg, while heifers topped out at €3.90/kg.
The calf ring, Egan added, witnessed a “good” clearance, while cows with calves at foot climbed to €2260.
Ennis Mart
According to a spokesperson for Ennis Mart, numbers were back compared to the corresponding special sale of autumn-born weanlings on Tuesday, March 11th, 2023, writes farming journalist, Catherina Cunnane.
They reported that “trade was strong but no dearer overall than previous weeks”.
“Quite a number of strong weanlings available and again, shippers were very active in the bull ring, as were a few bull finishers also.”
At Tuesday’s sale, bulls hit €4.18/kg and heifers reached €4.20/kg.
The spokesperson said that the bull ring attracted “some great quality”, with more “mixed quality” in the heifer ring.
Meanwhile, a small entry of suckler stock as pairs hit €2,390, while just 40 calves crossed the scales, with highs of €440 for a one-month-old Limousin heifer calf.
Kilmallock Mart
According to a spokesperson for Kilmallock Mart, some 600 cattle, calves and runners changed hands at Monday’s (July 10th, 2023) sale.
They reported that an “excellent trade prevailed all around as feeders stocked up on stores”.
Bullocks pushed from €1,820 each or €2.95 per kg for heavy lots, while lighter bullocks made up to €1,410 a head or €3.12 per kg and dry cows sold for up to €1,550 each or €2.30 per kg.
Meanwhile, heifers changed hands for up to €1,500 a head or €2.75 per kg, strong calves maxed out at €570 each and suckler cows pushed to €1,920 per unit.
