Prices level off as stores prove best
Tuesday December 15 2009
Prices were similar at marts this week as quality store bullocks made the best returns.
Although prices were similar to last week, there were more customers about at Balla mart on Saturday to view the 900 cattle on offer.
Beef bullocks sold for €250-480 over, store bullocks made €200-500 over, beef heifers sold for €180-420 over, store heifers made €140-480 over, dry cows achieved €300-1,050/hd and in-calf cows and cow with calves at foot made €700-1,500/hd.
Mountbellew mart had a similar number of cattle on offer on Saturday with good demand for quality lots.
Bullocks made €720-825/hd, heifers sold for €605-790/hd, weanling bulls made up to €610/hd and weanling heifers sold for up to €445/hd.
Prices were back slightly at Maam Cross mart but there was good value to be had for weanlings and stores.
On average, bullocks made €136-162 per 100kg, heifers sold for €132-150 per 100kg and cows achieved €545-895/hd.
Quality lots were still very much in demand at Dowra mart, even if the plainer lots were harder to sell.
Best were the store bullocks and heifers, which made €250-450 over, pushed by strong Northern Irish demand. Plainer types made €100-200 over. Dry cows sold between €100 under to €600 over. Good-quality weanling bulls and heifers made €200-400 over.
Carnew mart had a big entry of 680 cattle on Saturday with an improved trade for all classes and a full clearance. Exporters were very active in the weanling rings where up to €2.57/kg was paid.
In general, beef and forward bullocks made €250-510 over, store bullocks sold for €175-410 over and store heifers sold for €120-415 over.
At Headford mart on the same day, bullocks sold for €150-400 over, heifers made €60-380 over, suckler cows sold for €800-1,250/hd and cull cows made €250-860/hd.
There were plenty of customers at Ballymote mart's second-to-last sale of the year on Thursday when heavy bullocks made €200-370 over and store bullocks sold for €170-320 over.
- Majella O'Sullivan
Irish Independent
