Farming - The latest from Kilkenny Mart

Kilkenny Mart has been a very busy place over the past few weeks with record numbers of calves on offer. When one sees the expansion of dairy farming it is not surprising that this has happened.

When it comes to calf sales we are still very much dependent on exports and this route has been severely affected by strikes in France and poor weather conditions.

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Questions have also arisen how to get rid of Jersey bull calves, Norwegian Red etc which have been encouraged by the experts to help to increase milk solids in dairy herds.

The above questions were never addressed and there is also the problem of disposing of the cull cows in these breeds. When you have no market for a product you are then encountering serious problems.

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On the positive side quality traditional breed calves plus continentals are selling well supported by farmer buyers. AA and Hereford with good confirmation and size are ranging from €150 to €300 for bulls with heifers €100 to €280 with quality lots to €300.

Continentals are a scarce especially the quality lots with most bulls in this sector ranging from €150 to €350 and top notches types in excess of €400 for bulls with the heifer in this category to a top of €350.

Small Friesian bulls are ranging from €10 to €50 with better and stronger types to €250 or more.

Calf sales are held every Tuesday at 10am and all lots should be entered before 3.30pm on the previous Monday.

Monday sheep sales saw a slight improvement with butcher types €142 to €165 per head with factory types €110 to €144 per head with no store types on offer.

Cull ewes ranged from €65 to €194 per head.

A special dairy sale saw Fresh Calved Friesian Cows and Heifers ranged from €1250 to €2550 with fresh calved Mountbellards €1400 to €2400 per head.

Dairy Sales takes place every Monday at 12.30pm with all animals to be entered at least a week before the sale you hope to attend.

Thursday cattle sales are still continuing with excellent prices with bullocks on Thursday to a top of €3080 heifers to a top of €2140 and cull cows €2310 per head.

The €3 per kilo mark is been broken on numerous occasions with quality Friesian creeping towards that magical figure.

Until next time, do be careful on the farm — and good buying, good selling and good luck.