Kilkenny Mart: Excellent cattle prices this year were ‘not realistic’

And so this is Christmas and what have we done another year over etc. The well-known song by John Lennon reflecting the past year. If you were a weanling producer it was a very positive one as were calf prices, actually all cattle prices were well ahead of last year’s returns.

The main reason for the lift was a shortage of supplies and a strong export trade resulting in some excellent prices with the summer and early autumn months seeing quality continentals ranging from €5.30 to €6.80 per kilo and in some cases exceeding €7 per kilo.

On reflection, perhaps some of these prices were not realistic and the last few weeks prices have slipped considerably, but there have been a few factors that have caused this trend.

As I mentioned in my last article, the outbreak of Bluetongue in Northern Ireland has caused some uncertainty and the tactic by meat factories in dropping quotes on a weekly basis has quelled the enthusiasm of potential buyers.

The potential Mercosur deal with South American has not been welcomed by Irish farmers and the investigation by the Farmers Journal into the beef industry in Brazil did not leave a good impression of beef from that country - it suggested that hormones were freely used and there was little or no control regarding the use of antibiotics and animal medicine.

If meat coming from South America is treated with the same rules and regulations that EU farmers have to endure it would be a level playing pitch but according to the Journal this is not the case. This deal will be approved, but hopefully for the potential consumer all regulations must be implemented or the European farmer will be at a grave disadvantage.

Cattle
Last Thursday’s cattle sale in Kilkenny was a smaller affair with trade showing an improvement especially in the heifer ring.
Beef heifers ranged from €2,000 to €2,950 per head with forward store types from €17,50 to €2,280 and lighter stores €1,000, with a top call of €5 per kilo.

Beef bullocks ranged from €3.60 to €4.70 per kilo or €2,390 to €3,290 per head.
Forward store types €3.80 to €5.20 per kilo or €1760 to €2720 per head with lighter stores €3.50 to €5.25 per kilo or €1,000 to €1,950 per head.

Our final cattle sale of the year is this Thursday, December 18, with the first cattle sale of the New Year of 2026 Thursday, January 8.

Sheep
Our final sheep sale of 2025 was last Monday, which attracted an entry of 450 and resulted in a full clearance with butcher types over 50 kilo ranging from €182 to €196 per head with factory types €158 to €170 per head and the limited number of store lambs from €108 to €142 per head .

The change of the cull cow sale from Thursday to Tuesday has proved very successful and has also helped the weanling runner and calf sale on the same day. The Fr types last week ranged from €1.30 to €3.45 per kilo with the continentals which are a rare commodity €2.50 to €3.80 per kilo this week’s sale has attracted an entry of over 200 cull cows.

Lions Hamper Appeal
At this venture I must say a big thank you to the Kilkenny People and KCLR for their magnificent support of the Kilkenny Lions Hamper Appeal also to all the many businesses who supported the cause and of course the many, many people who bought items through our appeal.

You all have helped us raise in the region of €30,000 and I can assure you not one cent goes to administration.
I wish you all a very happy Christmas and a happy and healthy 2026. Until next time good buying, good selling and good luck and please take care on the farm.