Kilkenny Mart turnover in excess of €60 million in 2023

As we approach the third week of the New Year may I take this late opportunity to wish you and yours a happy and healthy 2024.

In most sectors here in Kilkenny Mart 2023 proved to be positive with turnover in excess of €60 million.

Numbers of cattle sold were similar to last year with sheep numbers increased by 3000 compared to 2022.
Calf numbers were in line with the previous year, with the only negative being weanling numbers which showed a decrease.
This factor was not unexpected due to the reduction in the suckler herd in favour of the dairy enterprise.

Many of these comparatively new producers to the dairy scene have now established themselves as top quality operators.
This may well be of benefit to the dairy industry but they are sorely missed by the dry stock farmer as they were the ones responsible for producing quality weanlings.
Unfortunately they were not making a viable living from that sector and chose to switch to milk production instead.

Cattle
Last Thursday, January 11, the sale of cattle attracted an entry of 740 with numbers in the bullock ring well increased from the week before.
On the heifer side numbers were scarce which saw the sale conclude at 12.45pm.

The fact that cull cows are now being sold on a Tuesday means that the heifer sale is finished much earlier.
The bigger bullock sale contained a lot of beef type animals with beef bullocks ranging from €1420 to €2360 per head with a top call of €3.45 per kilo.
The forward store types also attracted good support with prices ranging from €1180 to €1900 per head with a top of €3.40 per kilo.

In the 400 to 500 kilo bracket prices ranged from €780 to €1540.
Light store bullocks ranged from €500 to €1280 per head. The trade was helped by the presence of Northern Ireland buyers, feedlot operators, factory agents plus, of course, a large number of farmer customers.

As I mentioned before heifer, numbers were in short supply but prices were excellent.
Beef heifers ranged from €1380 to €2230 per head. Forward store types €1200 to €1610 per head with lighter stores €680 to €1190.
The cull cow sale on Tuesday recorded a 100% clearance with Fr types from €1.20 to €2.30 per kilo with continentals €1.50 to €2.75 per kilo.

Remember if you are selling bullocks or heifers they should be entered before 3.30pm on the previous Wednesday with cull cow entries taken up to 3.30pm on Mondays, but in this sector if you forgot to enter and you arrive at the mart you will not be turned away.
Weanling and eventually calves will also sold on Tuesdays.
The contact number for the mart office is 056 7721407.

Sheep
On Monday we had an entry of 580 sheep which resulted in a full clearance.
This sale is attracting a lot of top quality animals with the butcher lamb/ hogget ranging from €150 to €171 per head factory types €130 to €152 per head with store lambs €85 to €123 per head.
Cull ewes were also in demand with prices from €85 to €202 per head.

Dairy
We also held a dairy sale on Monday with in calf Friesian heifers from €860 to €1200 per head with fresh calved types €1100 to €1660 per head.
Our next dairy sale will be Monday, January 29, which will include an entire herd of 40 Fr cows and heifers all on the point of calving.
More details of the sale can be found on Kilkenny Mart.ie .
Until next time stay warm and safe and good buying, good selling and good luck.