Commercial cattle at Kilkenny Mart have ‘never been so expensive’

Having been involved in auctioning cattle for over half a century I have never seen commercial cattle so expensive as they are at the moment.

There are a few reasons for this development - supplies of livestock have seen a dramatic reduction, the outbreak of blue tongue in England and mainline Europe means exporters from Ireland are looking feverishly for suitable cattle to fill the void left by their normal competitors in the effect countries.

Factory agents are anxious to secure cattle and seem to be able to give more in the mart ring than the official factory quotes.

On Thursday last in Kilkenny, with 950 animals on offer, bullocks peaked at €3030 for an animal weighing 880 kilo.
Friesian beef types also sold very well to peak at €3.35 per kilo a price which was never seen in the mart ring.

Beef bullocks averaged €3.35 per kilo or €2200 per head. In the store bullock sector prices ranged from €2.40 to €4.25 per kilo.
With prices ranging from €1100 to €2230 for forward store bullocks and the lighter type bullocks €680 to €1570 per head.

Heifers are also making excellent money with beef types peaking at €2700 for 720 kilo with beef heifers averaging an amazing price of €3.60 per kilo with store type heifers recording an average of €3 per kilo.
No wonder there were so many farmers smiling on Thursday.

On Tuesday we held our cull cow sale with Friesian types ranging from €1.60 to €2.80 per kilo with continentals €2.00 to €3.30 per kilo. There were 180 on offer.

We also sell calves and runners on a Tuesday with the calf numbers just starting to increase. Trade for all these products seems to be very strong.

On Monday we hold our usual sheep and dairy sale with sheep kicking off at 10.15am and dairy at 12.30pm.
If you are thinking of selling dairy stock the forms for entry to the sale should be with us at least by the previous Wednesday to give us a chance to put details up on line for the weekend.

Last Monday’s sale attracted about 50 Friesian cows and heifers in milk prices ranged from €1400 to €2500 per head to average €1812 per head.

In the sheep sector hoggets/ lambs butcher types ranged from €188 to €224 per head factory types €160 to €204 with stores €94 for 26 kilo to €160 per head.
cattle to sell

Remember if you have cattle to sell they should be entered before 3pm on the previous Wednesday by contacting the office on 056 7721407.
Until next time when we hope the good times are still rolling: Do keep safe on farm and good buying, good selling and good luck.