Many animals returned to sheds

The main negative at the moment in the livestock section is the appalling weather conditions, preventing grass growth and presenting big problems for most farmers George Candler reports. The rain that fell on Thursday and Friday has spoiled ground conditions and has meant many animals have to be returned to the sheds. With fodder getting scarce many farmers are becoming very worried. The fact that we are now heading for April with feed disappearing by the day could well see a crises for many farmers. We urgently need a spell of dry mild weather which according to weather sources will not happen in the immediate future. For all involved in agriculture this is a very difficult time.

The main negative at the moment in the livestock section is the appalling weather conditions, preventing grass growth and presenting big problems for most farmers George Candler reports. The rain that fell on Thursday and Friday has spoiled ground conditions and has meant many animals have to be returned to the sheds. With fodder getting scarce many farmers are becoming very worried. The fact that we are now heading for April with feed disappearing by the day could well see a crises for many farmers. We urgently need a spell of dry mild weather which according to weather sources will not happen in the immediate future. For all involved in agriculture this is a very difficult time.

Thursdays cattle sale in Kilkenny saw bigger numbers on offer with quality lots meeting a good solid trade plain type and very light bullocks were more difficult to

sell due to the shortage of grass. The heifer ring was a much brighter place with lots of customers for the bigger numbers on offer.The beef quotes continue strong but it is in the store sector that we will and are seeing a slippage due to lack of feed. If you do have store animals to sell and have enough feed trade should steady or improve when grass starts to grow.

Monday’s sheep sale saw bigger numbers appearing with trade remaining firm. The first of the spring lambs have started to appear with most of them ranging from €125 to €141 per head.The cull ewes were somewhat easier with heavy lots peaking at €110 per head.

Dairy stock are still hard to sell with customers limited for the large numbers on offer. A number of top fresh calved heifers look value at €1150 to €1350 per head and these may well become more difficult to buy if grass started to appear. Calf prices have remained solid even allowing for the difficult weather conditions

with continental bulls peaking at €490 per head. Until next time Good Buying,Good Selling and Good Luck

Sheep

Butcher Hoggets €70 to €81 over the kilo €2.30 to €2.62 per kilo

No. Wt.(kg) €/kg Price(€)

10 57 €2.35 134

12 55 €2.47 136

11 52 €2.62 136

18 51 €2.45 125

Factory Hoggets €50 to €65 over the kilo €2.04 to €2.35 per kilo

No. Wt.(kg) € / kg Price(€)

8 49 €2.04 100

5 48 €2.23 107

13 46 €2.35 108

10 43 €2.33 100

Spring Lambs €80 to €102 over the kilo €2.60 to €3.62 per kilo

No. Wt.(kg) Price(€)

11 52 €2.62 136

12 46 €2.89 133

6 44 €3.30 145

12 39 €3.62 141

Cast Ewe s- €30 to €110 per head

Calves

Friesian Bulls - 2nd €35 to €100 per head 1st €90 to €260 per head; Continental Bulls - €240 to €490 per head; Continental Heifers - €180 to €330 per head; A.Angus/Hfd Bulls - €250 to €435 per head; A.Angus/Hfd Heifers -€180 to €330 per head

Dairy Stock - Fresh Calved Fr Heifers €900 to €1500 per head

Cattle

600 kg + €700 to €980 over the kilo €1.90 to €2.56 per kilo

No. Breed Wt. €/kg Price(€)

2 Lim 730 €1.99 €1,450

1 Cont 700 €2.40 €1,680

1 Char 640 €2.56 €1,640

1 AA 625 €2.34 €1,460

500 - 600 kg €500 to €900 over the kilo €1.80 to €2.75 per kilo

No. Breed Wt. €/kg Price(€)

1 Fr 590 €2.03 1,200

6 Herf 555 €2.25 1,250

6 Char 515 €2.74 1,410

4 Herf 505 €2.28 1,150

400 - 500 kg €420 to €785 over the kilo €1.60 to €2.85 per kilo

No. Breed Wt. €/kg Price(€)

6 Cont 485 €2.56 €1,240

7 Herf 475 €2.21 €1,050

4 AA 445 €2.36 €1,050

3 Lim 425 €2.85 €1,210

<400 kg €350 to €700 over the kilo €1.50 to €3.03 per kilo

No. Breed Wt. €/kg Price(€)

3 Char 390 €2.95 €1,150

2 AA 385 €2.21 €850

4 Char 340 €3.03 €1,030

4 Herf 320 €2.59 €830

Cull Cows - Cont €1.50 to €2.25 per kilo; Fr €1.05 to €2.10 per kilo

Beef Heifers €700 to €1035 over the kilo €2.05 to €2.56 per kilo

No. Breed Wt. €/kg Price(€)

1 Lim 695 €2.29 €1,590

1 Cont 665 €2.56 €1,700

1 AA 640 €2.41 €1,540

1 Char 610 €2.38 €1,450

Butcher Heifers €500 to €780 over the kilo €2.05 to €2.40per kilo

No. Breed Wt. Price(€)

2 Char 525 €2.40 1,260

1 AA 520 €2.15 1,120

1 Herf 450 €2.22 1,000

1 AA 430 €2.28 980

Store Heifers €450 to €670 over the kilo €2.10 to €3.05 per kilo

No. Breed Wt. €/kg Price(€)

1 Cont 420 €2.55 €1,070

2 Pied 370 €2.68 €990

3 Lim 350 €2.91 €1,020

2 Cont 275 €2.98 €820