June 6, 2012

 

UK cattle marts report strong, steady trade with slight price growth

 

 

Over the past week with the odd premises suggesting a little increase in prices, UK cattle marts were reporting a steady and strong trade for all categories, especially for the better quality stores.

 

Beef cattle and well-fleshed cull cows were in demand with some very fancy prices for heavy cows. Suckler cows remain in keen demand as do suck calves.

 

The 730 cattle on offer at Kilkenny mart met with increased demand across the board. Cull cows topped out at EUR2.34 (US$2.93) per kilogramme while cows with a calf at foot hit a high of EUR2,130 (US$2,670). Good continental steers over 500 kilogrammes were selling for EUR2.09-2.37 (US$2.62-2.97) per kilogramme in the main.

 

Friesians sold up to EUR2.08 (US$2.60) per kilogramme. Quality Continentals from 400-500 kilogrammes made from EUR2.50-2.70 (US$3.13-3.38) per kilogramme with lighter steers making up to EUR3.16 (US$3.95) per kilogramme when 10,345-kilogramme bullocks sold for EUR1,090 (US$1,365) each.

 

A pen of eight Friesians made EUR2.45 (US$3.07) per kilogramme. Beef heifers were making from EUR2.30-2.67 (US$2.88-3.34) per kilogramme with the butcher types moving at EUR2.30-2.74 (US$2.88-3.43) per kilogramme. Store prices ran from EUR2.30-2.87 (US$2.88-3.59) per kilogramme for the coloured types.

 

Friesian cull cows sold for EUR1.40-2.05 (US$1.75-2.57) per kilogramme with the Continental lots making from EUR1.65-2.34 (US$2.07-2.93) per kilogramme. At their calf sale earlier in the week, the Continental bulls ranged from EUR300-380 (US$376-476) with the heifers making from 230-320.

 

Hereford and Angus bulls sold for EUR180-355 while the heifers varied from EUR150-300 (US$188-376). Friesian bulls made from EUR150-310 (US$188-388) each.

 

Ballinakill had 350 head on offer and reported a smaller sale with a very good selling trade. Heavy bullocks traded for EUR2.15-2.75 (US$2.69-3.44) per kilogramme.

 

Forward stores made EUR2.15-2.85 (US$2.69-3.57) while light stores sold for EUR1.95-3.20 (US$2.44-4.0) per kilogramme. In the heifer section the well-fleshed lots ranged from EUR2.00-2.50 (US$2.5-3.13) per kilogramme. Stores made from EUR1.95-2.45 (US$2.44-3.06).

 

Weanling bulls were selling for EUR2.00-3.10 (US$2.5-3.88) per kilogramme with the heifers making EUR1.90-2.50 (US$2.38-3.13) per kilogramme. Cull cows made EUR1.50-2.25 (US$1.88-2.81) per kilogramme.

 

Light stores were making from EUR400-750 (US$500-938) over their weight at Ballymote mart. Heavier lots made up to EUR830 (US$1,038) over. Light store heifers sold from EUR350-630 (US$438-788) over.

 

Heavy heifers made up to EUR760 (US$950) over. Cull cows ranged from EUR435-760 (US$544-950) over the weight. Weanling bulls were making from EUR400-600 (US$500-750) over. The weanling heifers sold for EUR350-500 (US$438-625) with their weight while heavier lots made up to EUR775 (US$969) over.

 

Up in the north-west, the best of the heavy bulls over 600 kilogrammes were selling for EUR725-1,220 (US$907-1,525) over the weight at Raphoe mart. Beef and store bullocks sold from EUR630-865 (US$788-1,081) over. Store heifers moved at EUR400-810 (US$500-1,013) with the euro per kilogramme while the beef types made from EUR565-880 (US$706-1,100) over the weight. Cull cow prices ran from EUR670-1,600 (US$838-2,000).

 

A good lively trade with plenty of demand for good cattle was reported from Baltinglass where the store bullock prices ranged from EUR1,030-1,180 (US$1,288-1,476). Heavy steer prices ran from EUR1,280-1,800 (US$1,601-2,252). Cull cows topped out at EUR1,120 (US$1,401).

 

At Balla mart the light quality stores were up by EUR10-20 (US$12.51-25) per head. The store heifers made from EUR2.17-2.90 (US$2.71-3.63) per kilogramme while the heavier lots made up to EUR2.63 (US$3.29) per kilogramme.

 

The heavy steers were selling for EUR1.97-3.09 (US$2.46-3.87) per kilogramme. Stores made EUR1.64-2.88 (US$2.05-3.60) per kilogramme. The strong bull weanlings ranged from EUR2.44-2.91 (US$3.05-3.64) per kilogramme with the lighter types generally making up to and over EUR3 (US$3.75) per kilogramme.

 

Tops for the cull cows were EUR2,120 (US$2,652). The best of the sucklers with a calf at foot sold for EUR2,310 (US$2,889). The 850 cattle at Carnew mart met with a very strong trade with notable demand from exporters for quality weanlings.

 

This resulted in prices of up to EUR1,160 (US$1,451) over the weight. Beef and forward store bullocks made from EUR770-1,200 (US$963-1,501) with their weight. Stores sold for EUR380-930 (US$475-1,163) over. Beef heifers ranged from EUR600-1,130 (US$750-1,413) over the euro per kilogramme. Store heifers made EUR350-910 (US$438-1,138) over.