Cattle marts report: Big spenders pick up some impressive €980 Friesian stores and a €1,570 dry cow
The mart had some cracking Friesian store bullocks on offer. Cattle (just like a tasty cider) that needed nothing but time. They were the kind of stores that had farmer buyers licking their lips.
Early in the day, one lot of four Friesian stores weighing 488kg (and pictured here on this page) made €980.
It was good money, of course, but they were good cattle. Or as the farmer alongside me said, “They looked like the kind of cattle we used to see back in the eighties.”
A return to the British Friesian, in other words.
Later in the day, an Innishannon farmer had, by my reckoning, 28 Friesian stores on offer, coming into the ring in lots of seven.
These yearling bullocks averaged roughly 400kg, with a top price of €810 being paid for seven weighing 410kg.
If I had my cheque book with me on Monday, and if I had an overdraft to match my dreams and desires, there would have been no holding me back.
But moving on from my dreams and desires, the large number of dry cows going through the main ring continued on Monday last.
Bandon mart had 160 on offer, dry cows making from €50 to €720 with the kilo.
A smashing Blonde dry cow weighing 850kg (also pictured) made €1,570 last Monday.
In the calves in Bandon, the mart had 1,100 on offer, with mart manager Tom McCarthy telling me that the trade for calves was “very good”.
Friesian bullocks sold from €250 to €550 with their weight, while Aberdeen Angus and Hereford bullocks sold from €350 to €625 with the kilo.
Heifers in Bandon made from €300 to €600 with the kilo.
No Breed Sex Weight €
5 Fr steers 612kg 1190
7 AA steers 527kg 1190
1 Hr steer 450kg 950
2 Ch heifers 575kg 1250
1 Lm heifer 385kg 800
1 Sim heifer 445kg 1040
1 Fr cow 905kg 1310
Talking to a well seasoned farmer earlier this week, his feeling was that us beef farmers are in for a rocky year ahead. “A loss-making 2016” was the way he put it.
“Cattle overall in the marts, are back about €100 a head on last year,” he said, and many would agree with this , I’m sure.
“And added to this price drop, we had a very expensive and long winter. So I don’t see any profit for the cattle I bought in 2015,” he said.
But as ever, being a beef farmer, he was of course a philosophical old rascal.
“A bad year in beef comes along every so often,” he said, “that’s the nature of the beast. You really just have to take the knock, drive on and hope that the next year will come better.”
No Breed Sex Weight €
3 Lm steers 591kg 1355
4 Fr steers 590kg 1175
1 Lm heifer 580kg 1345
1 Ch heifer 625kg 1355
1 Sim heifer 570kg 1220
1 Sim cow 825kg 1470
1 Hr cow 685kg 1190
And with that thought, we move next to the philosophical beef farmers of Waterford, where on Monday last, Dungarvan mart had some nice continental heifers on offer for their perusal.
In Skibbereen mart on Friday, dry cows sold from €25 under to €620 with the kilo.
Continental bullocks made from €395 to €865 with their weight.
Aberdeen Angus and Hereford bullocks sold from €370 to €750 with the kilo, while Friesian bullocks sold from €215 to €450 with their weight.
Heifers in Skibbereen made from €375 to €740 with the kilo.
No Breed Sex Weight €
3 Ch steers 620kg 1465
2 Lm steers 505kg 1370
2 Fr steers 550kg 1000
3 Lm heifers 470kg 1130
1 Ch heifer 640kg 1380
2 Bax cows 725kg 1260
1 Ch cow 790kg 1410
“The excellent grass growth of recent days saw another outstanding trade for the 1,500 stock on offer here at Kilmallock mart last Monday,” was the report we received from Denis Kirby of Kilmallock mart. Almost 400 buyers were in attendance, as they purchased stock in big numbers for summer grazing.”
Bullocks in Kilmallock made up to €2.71 per kg, while weanlings hit €2.97 per kg.
“Dry cows were very dear, with huge competition at the ringside for the 240 on offer,” Denis Kirby said.
A top price of €1,330 was paid for a Limousin dry cow weighing 725kg.
No Breed Sex Weight €
2 Lm steers 393kg 1045
1 Hr steer 385kg 840
9 AA steers 372kg 820
2 Sim steers 650kg 1455
1 Ch heifer 465kg 1160
1 BB heifer 465kg 1005
1 AA cow 530kg 1140
“With dairy farmers relying more on calf and dry cow prices this year to see them through, the large numbers on offer and prices achieved must surely be of benefit.”
“Our calf ring in Kilmallock is attracting buyers from all over the country, with prices reflecting this fact. Strong beef breeds are making up to €665 each,” Denis said.
Heifers in Kilmallock hit €2.81 per kg on Monday.
The trade for dairy stock was improved, with calved cows making up to €1,360 (paid for a 7-year-old calved cow).
Suckler stock made up to €1,280 (paid for a 4-year-old Hereford and her Limousin heifer calf). In breeding bulls, an Aberdeen Angus sold for €2,050, while a Limousin bull made €1,560.
Next we have Seamus O’Keeffe, manager of Kanturk mart, with a round-up of Tuesday’s cattle sale.“Today saw a quieter day, with 1,100 cattle passing through both rings.
“There was a good trade at the ringside, with farmers in flying form after a weekend of fine weather. Prices were maintained from last week, with strong calves and big cattle in big demand and buyers in plentiful supply.”
No Breed Sex Weight €
2 Ch steers 650kg 1460
1 AA steer 600kg 1315
3 Hr steers 400kg 960
4 Fr steers 325kg 730
1 Lm heifer 470kg 960
1 Hr cow 470kg 950
1 Fr cow 670kg 950
“Our bull sale will be held here on May 28, beginning at 1pm. Everyone is welcome.”
Finally for this week, we head to the Corrin cattle sale, where on Tuesday, the mart had 1,200 cattle and calves on offer, with mart manager Sean Leahy reporting “an excellent trade for bullocks, with last week’s trade easily maintained.”
Forward store bullocks sold from €400 to €600 over the kilo, with beef bullocks making up to €740 over the kilo.
Store heifers in Corrin made €270 to €555 over the kilo, with butcher types making up to €800 over the kilo. On Tuesday, dry cows made from €500 up to €1600 a head.
No Breed Sex Weight €
6 Hr steers 656kg 1395
2 AA steers 540kg 1140
2 Lm steers 497kg 1230
8 Fr steers 380kg 795
1 Lm heifer 540kg 1340
6 BB heifers 280kg 685
1 AA cow 835kg 1600
