While some sales have seen a slight dip in the quality of stock on offer in the past week, for the most part, mart managers are reporting the trade to be strong and steady.
Where plainer-quality cattle are on offer, prices are a little easier, but, in the main, the trade for good-quality short-keep stores is strong.
The cow trade is steady also, with many prices of fleshed continental cows running a little ahead of the factory trade.
Farmers selling small numbers of cull cows are tending to try their luck in the mart first rather than going straight for slaughter. Heavy continental cows are selling from €1.85/kg to €1.90/kg, with others making over €2.00/kg at some sales, but this is mainly for cow heifers.
Friesian cull cows are a steady trade, with most sales reporting that prices of average-quality, warm, feeding cows to be selling from €1.10/kg to €1.30/kg.
Friesian cows carrying flesh are selling mainly from €1.45/kg to €1.55/kg.
Where calved continental cows are on offer, demand is strong for top-quality lots. Prices are ranging mainly from €1,600 to €2,000, with some sales recording prices higher than this for outstanding cow and calf teams.
Steers
Lesser-quality heavy bullocks over 600kg have taken a slight hit in average price, but where good-quality continentals are on offer, prices are reasonably steady. Store bullocks from 500kg to 600kg have seen average prices in MartWatch drop on account of increased numbers of plainer-cattle in areas. Average-quality R grade continentals are from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg, with U grades from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg. Bullocks from 400kg to 500kg are selling mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg for average-quality types, which is similar to last week.
Heifers
Heavy heifers over 500kg are selling from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg in stronger suckler areas, but further south €2.00/kg is buying the average heifer. U grades have seen prices ease slightly, but this is down to a quality issue, with less special sales taking place in the past week. The average 550kg U grade is making €1,250/head. Lighter heifers from 400kg to 500kg are selling mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg for average-quality types, which is similar to last week. Prices of top-quality types are ranging mainly from €2.40/kg to €2.50/kg.
Weanlings
Suckler-bred weanlings are holding steady, with 300kg to 400kg types from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg at most sales. Where dairy-crosses are on offer, averages are €2.00/kg. U grade continental bulls are selling from €2.50/kg to €2.70/kg, with some making over €3.00/kg at special sales. Light bulls have seen prices ease slightly in the last week. Weanling heifers are still being met with strong demand. Those from 300kg to 400kg are selling mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg. The top third are selling from €2.60/kg to €2.80/kg on average.
Read more
Camera at the Mart: over 1,000 cattle sold at Ennis show and sale
Top prices of €130 to €137 for hoggets in Mountbellew Mart
Camera at the Mart: Farmers drive trade for quality weanlings at Roscommon
Camera at the Mart: store cattle prices up on the year at Thainstone
NI trends: Beef prices remain flat
While some sales have seen a slight dip in the quality of stock on offer in the past week, for the most part, mart managers are reporting the trade to be strong and steady.
Where plainer-quality cattle are on offer, prices are a little easier, but, in the main, the trade for good-quality short-keep stores is strong.
The cow trade is steady also, with many prices of fleshed continental cows running a little ahead of the factory trade.
Farmers selling small numbers of cull cows are tending to try their luck in the mart first rather than going straight for slaughter. Heavy continental cows are selling from €1.85/kg to €1.90/kg, with others making over €2.00/kg at some sales, but this is mainly for cow heifers.
Friesian cull cows are a steady trade, with most sales reporting that prices of average-quality, warm, feeding cows to be selling from €1.10/kg to €1.30/kg.
Friesian cows carrying flesh are selling mainly from €1.45/kg to €1.55/kg.
Where calved continental cows are on offer, demand is strong for top-quality lots. Prices are ranging mainly from €1,600 to €2,000, with some sales recording prices higher than this for outstanding cow and calf teams.
Steers
Lesser-quality heavy bullocks over 600kg have taken a slight hit in average price, but where good-quality continentals are on offer, prices are reasonably steady. Store bullocks from 500kg to 600kg have seen average prices in MartWatch drop on account of increased numbers of plainer-cattle in areas. Average-quality R grade continentals are from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg, with U grades from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg. Bullocks from 400kg to 500kg are selling mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg for average-quality types, which is similar to last week.
Heifers
Heavy heifers over 500kg are selling from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg in stronger suckler areas, but further south €2.00/kg is buying the average heifer. U grades have seen prices ease slightly, but this is down to a quality issue, with less special sales taking place in the past week. The average 550kg U grade is making €1,250/head. Lighter heifers from 400kg to 500kg are selling mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg for average-quality types, which is similar to last week. Prices of top-quality types are ranging mainly from €2.40/kg to €2.50/kg.
Weanlings
Suckler-bred weanlings are holding steady, with 300kg to 400kg types from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg at most sales. Where dairy-crosses are on offer, averages are €2.00/kg. U grade continental bulls are selling from €2.50/kg to €2.70/kg, with some making over €3.00/kg at special sales. Light bulls have seen prices ease slightly in the last week. Weanling heifers are still being met with strong demand. Those from 300kg to 400kg are selling mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg. The top third are selling from €2.60/kg to €2.80/kg on average.
Read more
Camera at the Mart: over 1,000 cattle sold at Ennis show and sale
Top prices of €130 to €137 for hoggets in Mountbellew Mart
Camera at the Mart: Farmers drive trade for quality weanlings at Roscommon
Camera at the Mart: store cattle prices up on the year at Thainstone
NI trends: Beef prices remain flat
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