Cattle prices ‘on fire’ at Kilkenny Mart

On the cattle front prices have been on fire with the €4 per kilo being breached on a number of occasions during the Thursday cattle sales at Kilkenny mart, also at the weekly weanling sale each Tuesday in conjunction with the cull cow sale.

When we moved the cull cow sale from Thursday to Tuesday it was a brave move as we felt we might lose some of our established buyers. But the opposite was the case as we attracted five to six extra buyers who had always wanted to attend Kilkenny Mart but were involved with their own local sale on a Thursday.

The move also meant that the heifer sale would start on Thursdays at 10.30am as opposed to 12.30pm to 1pm if we sold cull cows before it. The move has also meant that heifer numbers being offered for sale have increased, so it’s a win-win situation for everybody.

I mentioned earlier about the terrific sale for all types of cattle on Thursdays, which saw beef bullocks over 600 kilo ranging from €2.55 to €3.60 per kilo with prices ranging from €1600 to €2580 for a 760per kilo bullock.
Friesian bullocks which weighed 725 kilo made €2050 which is a good indication of how well that breed is selling.

In the forward store section, six top quality limousin bullocks, which weighed 550 kilo made €1880 or €3.42 per kilo, with six friesians 505 kilo made €1400 or €2.78 per kilo.
Forward stores in general ranged from €900 to €2090 or €2.20 to €3.60 per kilo.
The light store bullocks and heifers are selling well with the bulk selling from €600 to €1320 depending on breed and quality.

Export Trade
There is an excellent export trade for AA cattle and continentals as Ireland is still free of blue tongue, a disease which has restricted exports from the UK and most of Europe, so we have taken up the slack with Irish exporters never as busy.
Lets hope we continue to be free of that dreaded disease as at the moment it is a super help to the trade.

Tuesday’s cull cow sale has seen most of the sales recording a 100% clearance and it is also attracting a number of cull bulls which are also selling very well.

Farmers should look at the mart as a real positive alternative for both cull cows and cull bulls.
Our next dairy sale is on Monday, December 16, which will be our final dairy sale of 2024.
Our last dairy sale saw an excellent trade for fresh calved Fr cows and heifers with prices ranging from €1500 to €2600 with in calf lots €900 to €1400 per head.

The weanling sales have attracted more AA and Hereford types this year due to the decline in suckler cows.
The bulk of these are ranging from €2.20 to €2.80 per kilo with an odd fancy type to €3.00 per kilo.

The continentals are attracting prices from €2.70 to €4.50 per kilo for both bulls and heifers and this sale will take place each Tuesday until the end of the year.
Our final weanling, calf and cull cow sale takes place on Tuesday, December 17.

Hamper Appeal
At this venture I should mention the Kilkenny Lions Hamper Appeal, especially the Farm Auction which took place on Thursday, November 28, and Thursday, December 5, on KCLR. All items were sold except two sets of soil samples offered by Teagasc. If you have an interest in these please contact me in the mart office.

On behalf of Kilkenny Lions Club I should acknowledge the magnificent help we get from the Kilkenny People and KCLR at this time of year because without our two partners this event would not go ahead.
A very big thank you to all our agri suppliers who throughout the years have offered tremendous support our Christmas Appeal.

Thanks also to the many bidders who purchased items in the Farm and General Auction, your participation is very much appreciated.
Until next time do be careful on the farm and good buying, good selling and good luck.