Heavy cows sorted out make up to 150 €/h more in the market than in the factory
Macroom Mart’s Gerry Sullivan noted that some cattle that had been housed 4-6 weeks earlier due to the very wet field conditions were reappearing at the marts.
I figured I wouldn’t see them until spring, once they’re deployed,” Gerry said. “I would say the guys looked at round bales which are making €45-50/bale and grist at €500/t and decided to save on their silage and let someone else bear the feed costs whilst they are now at a market Make money it has gotten stronger.
“When they need more cattle to graze grass in the spring, they’re ready to bid their time.”
Ballyjamesduff’s John Tevlin was one of several managers to mention increased online activity in the North for heavy cattle, particularly culling cows. This resulted in R-class culling, with the better ones selling for €2.70-3.00/kg, putting them back on a similar footing to top-class steers and heifers.
It has also lifted many of them €100-150/hr above what they would earn at the factory – despite offers on cows that have gone hard over the past two weeks.
At the other end of the culling market, house cows – whether Friesian, Holstein or Jersey – also made gains last week, despite more animals entering the market.
While the numbers have generally returned, the majority of markets once again noted the relatively strong numbers as their overall sales figures have already reached those for 2021.
However, the general consensus is that the number of quality shops and appointment shops has decreased and will continue to decrease as we head into Christmas.
What can help maintain quality numbers is if more farmers decide to recycle some of their original purchases because of feed cost concerns, or decide to take profits now and come back in the spring to buy what then need them.
At the moment those who are selling are meeting a strong market with ring averages still rising on both the steer and heifer sides.
However, the lack of quality numbers is forcing many to drop a notch or two: the biggest price improvements last week were in the lower quality animals.
On the steer side, the better Friesian over 500 kg earned €2.32-2.34/kg, while the smaller black and whites sold for €1.94-2.00/kg. Not so long ago, €2.00/kg was a good price for better Friesian oxen.
While factories, feedlots and northern buyers are the main players, last week’s farmer buying really pushed up prices for quality stores.
At the beginning of June, basic factory prices for steers were €5.20-5.30/kg, and prime continental fish of 400-600 kg fetched €3.12-3.14/kg in the markets, the smaller ones €2.46-2, €66/kg.
Last week, with factory prices of 4.70-4.75 €/kg for steers, better continentals of 400-600 kg achieved 3.00-3.03 €/kg, the worse ones 2.23-2.33 €/kg .
Demand for heifers over the past week has pushed up the overall average price of animals over 400kg by 10-14 cents/kg and the better animal fetched €2.87-3.01/kg. Christmas has come early for those who sell.
In the Know – all about the markets
Skibbereen
On the fat cattle show side of the auction, a 745 kg Limousin steer fetched €3,400 and a 655 kg breeding heifer €6,500.
Prices were also high for commercial cattle, with four 540kg Limousin steers averaging €1,500/h and two others at 382kg €1,130/h.
Total participation was 382 animals, almost half of which were culling cows, and demand pushed their prices up sharply.
Samples included an 820kg Belgian Blue E-Class for €2,870, an 800kg Charolais for €2,120, a 730kg Angus for €1,720 and a 770kg Friesian for €1,500. Forage Friesians around 600 kg are sold for 750-1,000 €/h.
Ballyjamesduff
While factory prices for culled cows have risen over the past two weeks, they still fall short of what is achievable in markets, according to John Tevlin.
Of great interest to online buyers from the North, continental offerings of over 700kg sell for €2.60-2.94/kg with heavy heifers accounting for up to €2.89/kg.
The number of quality shops is “decreasing”, which also leads to higher prices in this area. Samples among the steers included 420-490 kg continentals for €1,260-1,490/h, with a 565 kg animal going under the hammer for €1,640.
Macroom
A turnout of 500, including 170 cows culled. Gerry Sullivan said the trade was “off the Richter scale”.
Light continental steers fetched €2.80-3.10/kg, heavier species €2.40-3.00/kg, while Angus and Hereford steers sold for €2.30-2.50/kg.
Simple Friesians earned €1.60-1.80/kg, while black-and-whites with better conformation were sold for €2.00-2.20/kg.
Continental weaning bulls achieved €2.70-3.33/kg, heifers €2.50-3.10/kg.
With additional buyers ringing for culled cows, parlor cows sold up to a maximum of €1.45/kg, meaty Friesians earned €1.80-2.00/kg, while continental cows at €2.20/kg die reached peak.
Ennis
Last week the numbers here were 1,078. Prices remained strong across the board with online shoppers from the North remaining interested.
Among the top calls among the heavy steers were a 965 kg Charolais for €2,670, an 840 kg Charolais for €2,300 and three 772 kg Charolais for €2,230/h.
On the shop side, four 498kg sedans averaged €1,600/hour, four 517kg Herefords €1,410/hour.
Heifer prices were on par with steers, while 700kg+ culling cows fetched €2.60-2.90/kg, better Friesian culling €1.50-2.00/kg.
Castlerea
Numbers and prices stayed here with 600 on offer. Demand for bull calves peaked at a 255kg Charolais at €4.07/kg, followed by a 280kg limousine at €3.71/kg.
Among the weaned bulls, a selection of Charolais from 400-440kg was sold for €2.97-3.17/kg.
In the heifer ring, the demand for quality shops pushed prices down to over €3.00/kg. Examples included a 380kg Charolais for €1,290, a 400kg Belgian Blue for €1,230 and a 465kg sedan for €1,500.
Among the heavier heifers were a 780kg Charolais for €2,130, a 655kg Belgian Blue for €1,660 and a 620kg Limousin for €1,670.
Mohill
Darragh Barden reported a turnout of 200 head of cattle with solid demand from both farmers and pastures.
Darragh estimated that cattle were “up £100-150/hr in three weeks”.
500kg+ steers are sold at €1,430-1,500/h by the €/kg, with 500kg heifers earning €1,200/h by the weight.
Among the standout lots were fourteen 475-585kg Limousin and Charolais steers, whose owners recorded an overall average of €3.05/kg.
Heavy continental boats weighing between 1,000 and 1,400 €/hd were sold at the culling.
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With a sale of 930 heads, all beef grades and stores were up by €30-50/hd.
On the steer side, continental beef sells for €1,650-2,260/hr, while continental stores earn €970-1,610/hr.
Heavy Angus steers sold for €1,430-1,860/hour, in shops €870-1,400/hour. Heavy Frisian oxen fetched €1,220-1,680/hour, lighter batches €550-1,000/hour.
Continental Beef and Forward types fetched 1,650-2,220 €/h for heifers and 880-1,580 €/h for shops.
Angus heifers sold or €770-1,830/hd. Heavy continental cows were sold for €2,220/hour, heavy Friesian cows for up to €1,780/hour.
https://www.independent.ie/business/farming/beef/cattle-mart-trade/heavy-cull-cows-making-up-to-150hd-more-in-the-mart-than-in-the-factory-42197208.html Heavy cows sorted out make up to 150 €/h more in the market than in the factory
