Lighter animals sink amid concerns over grass – but heavier stock rise

Irish Independent

20-05-2025

Factory buyers and short-term feeders clearly had orders to buy
With numbers continuing to reduce and buyers – many of whom have reached the limit of their quota for grass or their budgets – considering the consequences of a prolonged dry spell on grass availability, the trend for bullocks under 500kg last week was downwards, and in some instances, severely downwards.
On the positive side despite factory rhetoric that prices for beef would not go further, those buying more forward animals for finishing responded by doubling down and driving the market on, especially for the 600kg+ type.
Overall, steers under 500kg were back just 8-10c/kg at €4.07-4.10/kg, but continentals hit the buffers in a big away as the better types at 300-500kg fell 29-32c/kg to €4.81-4.89/kg.
The majority of cattle for grass have already been sold or shipped, so the quality and numbers of those 'better types' are down.
Demand for 300-399kg Angus and Hereford bullocks drove them up 13c/kg overall to €4.27/kg, with the better one rising 4c/kg to €4.78/kg.
However, 400-499kg Angus and Hereford fell back by 5c/kg to €4.08/kg, with the top end dropping 10c/kg to €4.46/kg.
By contrast poorer dairy cross types actually moved up by 3c/kg to €3.66/kg.
Lesser-quality 300-399kg Friesians gained 12c/kg to average €3.04/kg, while the better one was up 1c/kg to €3.86/kg.
Also holding firm was the better Friesian from 400-499kg as he too gained 1c/kg to settle at €4.00/kg. Overall Friesians under 500kg made €3.48-3.69/kg.
Above 500kg it was a different story as continentals gained 18-19c/kg overall to finish the week on €4.50-4.53/kg, with better ones up 13-27c/kg to €4.92/kg – showing that factory buyers and short-term feeders had orders to buy.
Hereford and Angus rose €4.13-4.24/kg, with the more dairy type up 18-21c/kg to €3.86-3.95/kg.
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Better-quality Friesians over 500kg also cracked on, reaching €4.07-4.17/kg.
Twelve months ago, Maurice Brosnan of Gortatlea was adamant that those who reared their calves would be well paid for their work.
He reminded me of this at the weekend as he reported month to month-and-a-half-old Angus heifer and bull calves as selling from €765-835/hd.
'Twelve months ago those Angus were making €480-550/hd,' he said. 'At the same time reared Friesian bulls were selling from €250-300 – last week those bulls were generally making €400-500, with the good one making €550.
How does he see the next 12 months panning out for those investing now?
'A lot of calves are gone out of the country and the beef trade looks promising,' he said.
The latest Bord Bia data shows that live calf exports for the year to date are up 20,110 or 15pc on the same period last year to 156,060.
However, 152,332 calves were shipped to the end of April in 2023, which provides some perspective.
The main destinations for Irish calf exports are still the Netherlands and Spain, at 61,816 and 53,667 respectively. Poland and Italy are next accounting for 16,863 and 13,245, while Northern Ireland are fifth on a list of 22 countries that Irish shippers supply, at 6,002.
In the know – around the marts
Gortatlea mart
The weather warm helped another series of strong sales last week. Maurice Brosnan said the drive for stock for grass has lifted small cattle €100-200/hd in three weeks.
Angus bullocks and heifers made €4.20-4.60/kg, with Herefords at €4.10-4.20/kg and continentals at €4.30-4.70/kg (with the tops hitting €5.00/kg) and Friesian bullocks at €3.70-4.00/kg.
Beef cows were up 5-10c/kg with light Friesian types at €3.30-3.50/kg.
Demand for calves remained strong with reared Angus and Herefords selling from €765-855/hd.
Tullamore mart
With 450 cattle presented, bullocks and heifers operated from €4.00-4.50/kg, with the tops at €4.80-5.00/kg – demand for heifers was especially strong.
The heavy end included 700kg Angus bullocks at €3,180/hd (€4.54/kg) and 645kg Angus heifers at €3,180/hd (€4.93/kg), while another Angus heifer at 660kg sold to €4.80/kg €3,170/hd.
On the store side a 500kg Charolais heifer broke the €5.00/kg barrier at €2,520 while 370kg Limousins bullocks hit €5.13/kg selling at €1,900/hd.
Among the Friesians 335kgs sold to €1,180/hd, with 375kgs making €1,300/hd.
Ballinasloe mart
At Wednesday's sale of 220 cattle, Elish Curley said numbers were 'holding'.
Top-end store bullocks headed for €5.50/kg, with two 477kg Limousins making €2,550/hd (€5.34/kg) and a 430kg Charolais selling for €2,360 or €5.49/kg.
Heifers also sold well as a 365kg Limousin made €5.20/kg or €1,900, with two 555kg Charolais averaging €4.97/kg, while a 680kg Limousin made €3,300 or €4.85/kg.
Cull cows peaked €4.08/kg for a 755kg Charolais at €3,080.
Kilrush mart
There was a smaller entry here last week, with the calf trade holding very strong at up to €640/hd for continentals, with Angus types making €250-460/hd and Herefords €280-640/hd.
There was a good number of lighter stock: three 231kg Hereford bullocks hit €1,290/hd (€5.56/kg) and 405kg Friesians made €1,450/hd and 282kgs to €1,100/hd.
On the heifer side top calls included 510kg Charolais and 520kg Angus at €22,260/hd and €2,120/hd respectively, with 325-425kg Herefords making €1,360-1,980/hd.
Raphoe mart
Trade was again very strong at Thursday's sale of 303 cattle.
Forward bullocks and heifers made €4.00-4.80/kg but the real gravy came among medium and lighter weights.
Mid-range continentals reached €5.10/kg off a base of €4.00/kg, with lighter animals peaking at €5.40/kg off a base of €4.20/kg.
Angus bullocks and heifers generally sold for €3.70- €4.40/kg, with Friesian bullocks at €2.90-3.60/kg.