Kilkenny Mart: Welfare of animals will be under scrutiny in future

Monday night’s RTE investigates program did not paint the calf industry in great light, concerning the treatment of animals, plus transportation.

As was stated in the program the calving window for dairy cows and heifers is very tight and between the end of January and end of March when thousands of calves are born and many dairy farmers do not hold onto bull calves.

Many farmers have been advised to invest in Guernsey or Jersey animals to increase solids which should increase the price they get for their product.

A few issues were missed with this advice. The calf from these animals is unsaleble plus as a cull animal the return is very poor.

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The introduction of sexed semen going forward should help but it will mean that we will see an increase in female animals and many of these will not be suitable for breeding.

Ireland as an island is the only country in the EU that does not have a land border to mainland Europe and as an exporting country we depend on sea travel to get our calves to countries like Holland, Spain Poland etc for veal production.
Going forward, welfare of animals in marts and for transportation will be under scrutiny so good husbandry will be expected.

Sheep
On Monday sheep numbers were small with only 400 on offer butcher lambs ranged from €168 to €193 per head factory types €135 to €155 per head with cull ewes ranging from €78 to €185.

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The factories did reduce quotes but as numbers are small it is possible they may have to increase quotes to secure numbers.
Around Kilkenny a lot of sheep flocks have disappeared with younger farmers feeling that they are a product that demands a lot of hands on work and returns do not justify the labour and feel dairying is a more profitable enterprise.

Cattle
On the cattle front the stand out trade was for light and forward store bullocks and heifers emanating from the suckler herd where prices ranged from €2.80 to €3.65 per kilo. This type of animal is in short supply but is in demand by many feeders.

The sad thing is that suckler type animals will remain scarce due to the big reduction in the national suckler herd.
Beef bullocks saw prices range from €1250 to €2310 per head forward store bullocks €1100 to €1650 per head and lighter types €550 to €1490 per head.
Cull cows Fr €1.00 to €2.30 per kilo with continentals €1.50 to €2.60 per kilo.

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Contact
As usual just a reminder - if you are entering cattle please do so before 3.30pm on the previous Wednesday by calling the office 056 7721407.
It is not essential to enter cull cows or bulls just bring them along before 9am on the day of sale.
Until next time do be careful on the farm and good buying, good selling and good luck.