Cattle marts report: More weanlings starting to appear, making up to €3.13 per kg at Kilmallock
Less than 24 hours after Cork’s crushing defeat by Galway, and after two weeks of GAA action that most in Cork would prefer to erase from the mind, there he was grasping his two hurleys, as if he were Teddy McCarthy himself.
On a morning when a fellow would be well entitled to bash his hurley off the roadside, he was standing tall, waiting to answer Cork’s call.
In cattle farming, mart manager Tom McCarthy refers to such behaviour as ‘eternal optimism’ — and it’s very common in beef farming. We’re full of it.
Never say die. There’s hope for the rebel county yet.
Moving on from the sporting fields to the cattle fields, in Bandon on Monday, stock on offer was on the increase.
It was another of those days when there seemed to be an unending supply of dry cows appearing in the ring.
The trade for dry cows remains strong.
mart also had a good supply of bulls up for sale, mostly of the Friesian variety. There were some big fellows, some handy lads, one cross devil, and even one fellow who auctioneer Jonathan O’Sullivan announced had got the snip. A vasectomised bull, if you don’t mind.
But if you were on the market for a standard pedigree registered Friesian bull with all his bits in working order, a March 2014 born bull weighing 585kg would have set you back €1,250 last Monday.
The top price of the day was paid for two heavyweight Charolais steers weighing 987kg; they made a sobering €2,450 a head.
In Bandon on Monday, Continental bullocks sold from €600 up to €1,460 with the kilo. Aberdeen Angus and Hereford bullocks ranged in price from €450 to €750 with the kilo. Friesian bullocks at Bandon mart sold from €350 to €645 with the kilo.
No Breed Sex Weight €
4 Ch steers 470kg 1320
11 AA steers 437kg 1000
4 Fr steers 386kg 750
3 Ch steers 371kg 940
3 Lm heifers 435kg 1010
1 AA Cow 765kg 1380
1 Fr cow 635kg 1090
“A sale worth getting excited about,” was the headline we received from the team in Kilmallock
mart, after Monday’s cattle sale. Ever a man in search of excitement, I had to find out more.
“Sellers went home smiling from Kilmallock Mart, with the trade described as amazing,” explained Denis Kirby. “Eight to 12-month-old weanlings are starting to appear here, and they are making up to €3.13 per kg.”
Kilmallock mart had 1,100 stock on offer on Monday. Dry cows here hit €2.15 per kg. Heifers sold to a high of €2.71 per kg. Bullocks made up to €3.12 per kg.
Looking at dairy stock, a 3-year-old in-calf cow springing to a Friesian made €1.260. A 6-year-old calved cow sold for €1,250. A 3-year-old calved since last Friday made €1,200.
Looking at the suckler trade in Kilmallock, a 5-year-old Simmental cow and her Simmental heifer calf made €1,780. A 3-year-old Hereford and her Hereford bull calf sold for €1,440. A 6-year-old Shorthorn and her Charolais heifer calf made €1,400.
Denis said, “As next Monday is a bank holiday, we would ask sellers to have their cattle in the yard early.” I’d heed his words, having seen the August bank holiday sale in Kilmallock last year.
No Breed Sex Weight €
1 Ch steer 365kg 1020
1 BB steer 260kg 900
2 AA steers 410kg 1280
4 Fr steers 625kg 1320
2 Hr heifers 390kg 900
1 Lm heifer 365kg 920
1 Sh cow 395kg 790
Moving next to mart, where after Monday’s cattle sale, mart manager Ger Flynn gave us this report.
“Cattle numbers are holding very well, with prices also holding well for all types.
“We had a very good dry cow trade.
“We will have no cattle sale here next Monday, due to the bank holiday.”
No Breed Sex Weight €
5 BB steers 621kg 1420
4 Lm steers 503kg 1245
6 Ch heifers 525kg 1195
4 Lm heifers 468kg 1095
1 Sim cow 715kg 1390
4 Fr cows 691kg 1225
1 Fr cow 685kg 1205
In Macroom mart last Saturday, dry cows sold from €170 to €830 over the kilo. Hereford and Aberdeen Angus bullocks made from €220 to €880 over the kilo. Continental bullocks sold from €240 to €810 over the kilo. Heifers sold from €300 to €690 with the kilo.
No Breed Sex Weight €
1 Hr steer 495kg 1100
2 AA steers 415kg 1000
1 Lm steer 560kg 1370
2 Ch steers 410kg 1060
1 Hr heifer 485kg 1080
1 Ch heifer 450kg 1140
1 Hr cow 785kg 1520
“Extraordinarily big numbers for the time of year, with these numbers perhaps putting a little downward pressure on the price of a few poorer quality lots,” was the report we received from mart manager Martin Ryan of mart after Monday’s cattle sale.
“But nevertheless a very strong trade, especially for anything near beef.”
No Breed Sex Weight €
4 Hr steers 727kg 1510
5 Lm steers 480kg 1300
5 AA steers 455kg 1080
4 Fr steers 417kg 810
3 Ch steers 656kg 1440
5 AA heifers 400kg 840
3 Lm heifers 439kg 1130
Slight easing in prices for lighter stores has also been noted by George Candler, mart manager in .
Thursday
No Breed Sex Weight €
12 Lm steers 620kg 1560
1 BB steer 500kg 1450
2 AA steers 410kg 1060
5 Fr steers 335kg 900
5 Hr heifers 465kg 1200
2 Ch heifers 620kg 1510
1 AA heifer 360kg 780
“The price of some store bullocks is easier by €10 to €15 per head compared to last week.
“But perhaps they need to be. Friesian bullocks had attracted a lot more interest in the past few weeks, with up to €2.50 per kilo being paid.
“On last Thursday, plainer types were back to €1.70 per kilo.
“However there was a marked increase in the price paid for forward store and beef animals, this increase would be in the region of €10 to €20 per head compared to a week ago. Numbers overall remain big for this time of year.”
Looking at cull cows in Kilkenny, Friesian cull cows on Thursday made from €1.20/kg to €2.00/kg.
Continental cull cows made from €1.65/kg to €2.40/kg.
mart on Tuesday had 800 cattle on offer, with mart manager Sean Leahy reporting a “steadier trade for bullocks,” and on Tuesday, store bullocks made from €250 to €700 over the kilo.
No Breed Sex Weight €
1 Lm steer 620kg 1615
4 Lm steers 379kg 1080
5 Fr steers 630kg 1445
6 Hr steers 385kg 915
5 Hr heifers 379kg 865
1 Sim heifer 538kg 1300
1 Fr cow 856kg 1570
Sean reported a ‘good steady trade’ for heifers, with stores making €250 to €510, and butcher types making up to €880 with the kilo.
Dry cows also saw a steady trade in Corrin making from €700 to €1,570 a head at the mart near Fermoy.
mart manager Tom McCarthy reported a big sale of stock in Skibbereen mart on last Friday, where 400 cattle were on offer. Continental bullocks in Skibbereen made from €500 to €1,000 with the kilo. Friesian bullocks in Skibbereen sold from €250 to €600 with the kilo. Aberdeen Angus and Hereford bullocks ranged in price from €400 to €750 with the kilo.
Dry cows in Skibbereen made from €200 to €930 with the kilo. Heifers on Friday sold from €430 to €800 with their weight. Suckler stock in Skibbereen made from €1,100 to €1,580.
No Breed Sex Weight €
5 Hr steers 673kg 1375
2 Lm steers 362kg 915
4 Hr heifers 497kg 1140
1 Hr cow 850kg 1780
1 AA cow 860kg 1670
1 Lm cow 760kg 1560
1 Fr cow 640kg 1140
Finally this week, we go to , where after Tuesday’s cattle sale, mart manager Seamus O’Keeffe gave us this report on the mart’s opening weanling show and sale of the season.
“We had a big sale today for our Boherbue Co-Op Creameries sponsored 2014 autumn born weanling show and sale. We had 210 weanlings on offer, with buyers from all over the country present. Top weanlings were making €700 to €1,000 with their weight.
"The supreme champion was a Belgian Blue bull weighing 515kg, and this bull made €1,525. The reserve champion was a Charolais bull weighing 420kg, and this bull made €1,320. The best pen of weanlings weighed 467kg and made €1,270.
No Breed Sex Weight €
2 Fr steers 715kg 1450
5 Lm steers 586kg 1270
1 Ch steer 585kg 1290
1 AA heifer 570kg 1130
1 Hr heifer 505kg 1010
1 Lm heifer 361kg 955
1 Fr cow 835kg 1460
