This October 2014-born Limousin cow weighed 825kg and sold for €1,540 (€1.86/kg).
Factory cuts are starting to bite in marts, with heavy cows back in price at Monday night’s weekly cattle sale in Elphin. Cull cows had been a roaring trade for the last few months, but have taken a dip following the latest factory cuts at the beginning of this week.
This April 2008-born Limousin cow weighed 835kg and sold for €1,580 (€1.89/kg).
Top-quality heavy cows were hitting between €2-€2.20/kg in marts over the last few weeks, but have come back to €1.80-€1.90/kg in the last few days. Top call of the night went to an April 2019-born Charolais cross cow weighing 900kg. She was knocked down at €1,700 (€1.89/kg).
However, exports to Northern Ireland remain unchanged.
Roughly 20% to 30% of stock at the main breeds society sales on a normal year would go for export. The percentage of these cattle exported to mainland Britain varies greatly among breeds.
However, what is common across all is that these are generally many of the top prices of the sales and help set a standard overall.
What the societies had to say
Peadar Glennon, Irish Simmental Cattle Society
“The first thing I’d ask is where is the rule coming from, is it the UK or the EU? If this rule stays in place, it will have a serious impact on our premier sale trade, especially for the likes of the good bulls and heifers.
However, exports to Northern Ireland remain unchanged.
Roughly 20% to 30% of stock at the main breeds society sales on a normal year would go for export. The percentage of these cattle exported to mainland Britain varies greatly among breeds.
However, what is common across all is that these are generally many of the top prices of the sales and help set a standard overall.
What the societies had to say
Peadar Glennon, Irish Simmental Cattle Society
“The first thing I’d ask is where is the rule coming from, is it the UK or the EU? If this rule stays in place, it will have a serious impact on our premier sale trade, especially for the likes of the good bulls and heifers.
SHARING OPTIONS:
This January 2019-born Limousin heifer weighed 525kg and sold for €1,180 (€2.25/kg). \ Brian Farrell
Balla Mart hosted its weekly sale on Saturday, which included a special sale of weanlings.
This increase in weanlings saw numbers through the ring rise to nearly 900.
While the same bite for cattle seen in January wasn’t as evident, demand remained quite strong, resulting in a clearance rate of over 90%.
Speaking after the sale, mart manager Stephen Hannon said: “The general sale has started to cool off compared to the confidence that was shown after Christmas.
“Forward, heavy cattle were most noticeable. That said, dry cow trade we are seeing no slack in. That super young continental type is holding very strong, with northern buyers still active.