Farmers would be lost without a mart

The rain came down in torrents on Thursday so it was a day that only a limited amount of work could be carried out on farms added to that a lot of school children are on holiday all resulted in a bumper crowd turning up at Kilkenny Mart which gave the location a great atmosphere. Grass has started to grow very quickly and it was evident that many farmers wanted cattle to eat this grass which resulted in an increase of €15 to €25 per head on the previous weeks transactions.

A lot of the younger farmers are saying that marts are no longer important to them as they can do there buying and selling privately through done deal and a one to one transaction with a specific buyer. May I asked these people how they value the animals they are selling? Without a mart they would have no idea what the value of an animal would be .This was brought to light during the foot and mouth problems in Ireland when livestock marts were shut and many farmers had no idea what their animals were worth. Many young farmers say they do not have time to come to marts.

Farmers spend at least a year or two raising their animals and they say they cannot afford part of a day a few times a year to sell their animals where they may have up to 15 buyers trying to purchase their product .Logic would say they have to secure a better price than selling privately at home .Marts are also a popular place for many isolated farmers to meet due to the demise of the local pub caused by the strict drink driving laws. Young farmers don’t knock marts until you try them.

The sheep trade has shown a slight recovery with most lambs on Tuesday easier to sell due to a better demand for this product. Mondays sale returns will appear under this report so hopefully the more positive trend will continue for the sheep producer . This Thursday we hold a special suckler sale in conjunction with our weekly cattle sale and on Monday next we have our monthly dairy sale. Until next week good buying good selling and good luck.

Cattle

There were 650 cattle on offer with an excellent trade for all lots with both bullocks and heifers increased by €20 to €30 per head. Cow trade steady.

600 kg + €750 to €1020 over the kilo (€2.05 to €2.60 per kilo)

No. Breed Wt. €/kg Price(€)

1 AAX 875 €2.09 €1,830

5 Herf 660 €2.30 €1,520

1 Char 640 €2.59 €1,660

3 Lim 605 €2.45 €1,485

500 - 600 kg €500 to €910 over the kilo ( €2.00 to €2.80 per kilo)

1 Char 590 €2.54 1,500

2 AAX 575 €2.40 1,380

2 Lim 530 €2.58 1,370

7 Char 500 €2.80 1,400

400 - 500 kg €400 to €805 over the kilo ( €2.00 to €3.00 per kilo )

2 Lim 495 €2.63 €1,300

6 Fr 460 €2.04 €940

5 Char 425 €2.82 €1,200

5 Lim 405 €2.99 €1,210

<400 kg €350 to €750 over the kilo ( €2.00 to €3.20 per kilo)

8 Cont 390 €2.73 €1,065

1 BB 340 €3.18 €1,080

4 Fr 305 €2.46 €750

1 AA 290 €2.34 €680

Cull Cows - Cont €1.50 to €1.95 per kilo; Fr s €1.20 to €1.89 per kilo

Beef Heifers €650 to €900 over the kilo ( €2.20 to €2.50 per kilo)

1 ShX 660 €2.23 €1,470

1 Lim 620 €2.44 €1,510

1 Fr 615 €2.23 €1,370

1 Lim 610 €2.46 €1,500

Butcher Heifers €480 to €810 over the kilo ( €2.15 to €2.60 per kilo)

No. Breed Wt. Price(€)

2 Char 535 €2.32 1,240

1 AA 520 €2.56 1,330

1 AA 490 €2.19 1,075

2 Lim 450 €2.44 1,100

Store Heifers €450 to €710 over the kilo ( €2.10 to €3.45 per kilo )

3 Char 395 €2.78 €1,100

2 Cont 280 €3.43 €960

3 AA 345 €2.23 €770

2 Lim 290 €3.07 €890

Sucklers - Cows with calves at foot €1000 to €1350 per unit.

Sheep

Somewhat bigger sale of sheep with a significant lift in price by €8 to €12 per head for lambs on last weeks returns.

Butchers Lambs

No. Wt.(kg) €/kg Price(€)

10 54 €2.17 117

12 53 €2.21 117

15 51 €2.25 115

21 48 €2.31 111

Factory Lambs

No. Wt.(kg) € / kg Price(€)

17 46 €2.37 109

11 45 €2.47 111

15 43 €2.49 107

10 42 €2.48 104

Cast Ewes - €40 to €106 per head

Breeding Ewes - Ewes with lambs at foot €160 to €210 per unit

Calves

Friesian Bulls €180 to €320 per head; Continental Bulls €280 to €370 per head; Continental Heifers €250 to €330 per head; A.Angus/Hfd Bulls €220 to €340 per head; A.Angus/Hfd Heifers €200 top €300 per head