Cattle returned to sheds in mid May

The weather is still presenting problems with cold nights and wet days restricting grass growth. A lot of farmers around the country have to return cattle to sheds to preserve fields from been poached.

The beautiful days of March and early April have been long forgotten lets hope summer will soon arrive. Because of the inclement weather the price of cattle should show a significant reduction but this has not been the case. Plain cattle may well have reduced in price but Thursday saw forward store bullocks and beef heifers meeting a keen demand with an increase in some cases by €30 per head. Quality store bullocks are still in demand with a bunch of 11 Char 455 kg making €1340 last week. The price of beef needs to show a significant improvement for these animals to leave a return in 12 months time.

The trade for spring lambs has been very disappointing and it appears that it will be a difficult time for the early lamb producer. The slip in prices has been dramatic with €120 been a top call for most lambs in the 50kg bracket. The lack of spending power of the housewife and the presents of a significant amount of hoggets are all factors effecting the trade .The best we can hope for is a stabilisation of prices.

On this Wednesday we hold our final bull sale of the season for the Kilkenny Agricultural Society with approx 150 on offer next week I will have a report on the sale in next weeks issue. Good buying, good selling and good luck

Cattle

600 kg + €750 to €1210 over the kilo (€2.15 to €2.51 per kilo)

No. Breed Wt. €/kg Price(€)

1 Sim 800 €2.51 €2,010

1 Lim 690 €2.45 €1,690

1 AA 650 €2.26 €1,470

5 Herf 620 €2.17 €1,345

500 - 600 kg €500 to €880 over the kilo (2.05 to €2.65 per kilo)

No. Breed Wt. €/kg Price(€)

6 AA 595 €2.05 1,220

3 Char 550 €2.60 1,430

1 Char 540 €2.63 1,420

1 Herf 520 €2.23 1,160

400 - 500 kg €420 to €885 over the kilo (€2.05 to €2.95 per kilo)

No. Breed Wt. €/kg Price(€)

2 Lim 480 €2.58 €1,240

11 Char 455 €2.95 €1,340

2 Cont 440 €2.28 €1,005

1 Lim 410 €2.62 €1,075

<400 kg €300 to €650 over the kilo

No. Breed Wt. €/kg Price(€)

2 Char 385 €2.62 €1,010

6 Fr 345 €2.12 €730

5 Herf 340 €2.65 €900

1 Char 220 €3.05 €670

Cull Cows - Fr €1.20 to €2.00 per kilo; Cont €1.50 to €2.25 per kilo; Beef Heifers €500 to €1015 over the kilo (€2.05 to €2.55 per kilo)

No. Breed Wt. €/kg Price(€)

1 Fr 765 €2.08 €1,590

1 Lim 735 €2.38 €1,750

3 Char 575 €2.54 €1,460

2 Herf 530 €2.21 €1,170

Butcher Heifers €440 to €685 over the kilo €2.05 to €2.65 per kilo)

No. Breed Wt. Price(€)

1 AA 520 €2.13 1,110

2 Herf 475 €2.05 975

1 Lim 445 €2.45 1,090

3 Char 420 €2.63 1,105

Store Heifers €350 to €735 over the kilo (€2.10 to €2.80 per kilo)

No. Breed Wt. €/kg Price(€)

1 Cont 435 €2.69 €1,170

4 Cont 360 €2.38 €855

3 AA 355 €2.23 €790

1 BB 240 €2.54 €610

Sucklers - Cows with calves at foot €1000 to €1450 per unit

Sheep

Butchers Lambs €60 to €70 over the kilo (€2.30 to €2.55 per kilo)

No. Wt.(kg) €/kg Price(€)

17 51 €2.35 120

11 48 €2.33 112

10 46 €2.39 110

12 45 €2.51 113

Factory Lambs €60 to €68 over the kilo ( €2.48 to €2.58 per kilo)

No. Wt.(kg) € / kg Price(€)

11 44 €2.52 111

10 43 €2.53 109

10 42 €2.50 105

8 39 €2.56 100

Cast Ewes - €40 to €110 per head

Breeding Ewes - Ewes with lambs at foot €150 to €210 per unit

Calves

Friesian Bulls €125 to €320 per head; Continental Bulls €310 to €420 per head; Continental Heifers €280 to €335 per head; A.Angus/Hfd Bulls €250 to €350 per head; A.Angus/Hfd Heifers €180 to €320 per head

Dairy Stock

Fr Maiden Heifers €680 to €730 per head; Calved Fr Heifers €1100 to €1480 per head; Calved Fr Cows €1000 to €1300 per head