Steady lamb prices a good sign at Kilkenny Mart

At last a bit of good news for the hard pressed sheep farmer, from Kilkenny Mart, with a sharper trade for fleshed hoggets / lambs and a top call of €161 for 53 kilo.

Cull ewes were also selling well with the €180 mark being broken on a few occasions.
This sector has been experiencing tough times in the past month or so with feed prices rocketing and store lambs last autumn being expensive.

The bulk of the butcher type hoggets on Monday ranged from €145 to €161 per head with factory types €120 to €140 and h limited number of store hoggets €88 to €120 per head.
Hopefully between this and the spring lamb surge prices will remain steady if not showing an increase in price.

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Dairy Sale
Our dairy sale on Monday attracted over 70 head with in calf Friesian cows and heifers ranging from €1240 to €2080 per head and fresh calved lots €1550 to €2700 per head.
Our dairy sale will continue every Monday at 12.30pm with Monday the 20th March being an exclusive, one herd clearance sale of over 80 head.

We will also have a special sale of yearling Friesian heifers at the end of the month and early April.
Further Details from Annie on 056 7721407.

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Cattle Sale
Our cattle sales continue to attract plenty of interest from potential buyers especially the quality lots.
Last week it was suggested that factories had dropped quotes but this was far from obvious around the sales ring with the bullocks over 600 kg ranging from €1500 to €3060 per head, forward stores €1200 to €1880 per head, with lighter types €600 to €1600 per head.

Heifers also met a good solid trade with beef types €1500 to €2300 per head and forward stores €1050 to €1660 with lighter types €500 to €1260 per head.
Cull cows also sold well with Friesians €1.25 to €2.60 per kilo and continentals €1.70 to €3.03 per kilo.
If you are bringing cattle to our sale on a Thursday they should be entered before 3.30pm on the previous Wednesday.

Calf numbers increased last Tuesday with 650 on offer quality bulls eg AA, Herf and Cont ranged from €250 to €400 per head better Friesian type bulls €70 to €150 per head with real top types to €250 per head.
Calves should be entered by 3.30pm on the previous Monday.

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Cold Snap
As I write this column the weather is cold with some snow on the hills. Hopefully this cold snap will be short lived because we could do with a week or two of mild weather with some rain to instil grass growth.
Until next time do be careful on the farm and good buying, good selling and good luck!