This week we are going to add something new to the agri pages. We are bringing our readers a report from our local mart in Corrin.
As you know, with the current lockdown restrictions, our local mart is no longer quite the place of hustle and bustle of cattle trading that we have become accustomed to. Sellers can only drop the animals, hand over passports and depart.
Gone, for the meantime, is the opportunity to catch up with a bit of local gossip or to discuss the current trade and trends of the livestock business.
It is very different too for buyers – all that can be offered is: signing in at the door, view animals at the allocated time and off to the privacy of their own truck or home to bid online on animals that have caught their eye in the morning!
Gone are the days, again just for the meantime, for them to have a hearty breakfast and a chat before heading to the various rings to ply their trade.
But soon, hopefully, we will return to the hustle and bustle of the mart business and we will gladly welcome back our sellers and buyers so that the mart can once again take its place as an integral part of Irelands agricultural tapestry.
But, even taking all that into consideration, the online selling is certainly a success. Numbers on offer are excellent and there is a fantastic demand for all stock and Tuesdays sale was testament to this:
DRY COWS
A very large number of dry cows on offer this week met an extraordinary lively trade. Store cows – 400 to 550kgs – making from €1.15 per kilo to €1.80 per kilo.
Heavier cows – 550 kgs + – making from €1.27 per kilo up to €1.80 per kilo.
Fr. 635kg €1160; Fr. 700kg €1140; Fr. 595kg €890.
BULLOCKS
The bullock trade was improved again this week. Buyers from throughout the country bid aggressively for all weights and breeds.
Light stores – under 350kgs – made from €1.60 per kilo for plain Friesians up to €2.60 for continental bullocks. With AA/Her types making from €2.00 per kilo up to €2.32 per kilo.
Medium stores – 350kgs to 500kgs – starting at €1.53 for Fr up to €2.37 per kilo for continentals. AA/Her bullocks made from €1.95 up to €2.24 per kilo.
Frwd stores – 500 to 600kgs – these weights are the most improved trade over the last few weeks. The plainer Fr started at €1.54 per kilo up to €2.41 per kilo for Lim. Her/AA made from €1.92 up to €2.19 per kilo.
AA 455kgs €1,020; Lim 550kgs €1,330; AA 550kgs €1,210; AA 272kgs €630; Her 360kgs €770; Fr 577kgs €1,110; Fr 277kgs €500.
HEIFERS
Heifers too have shown a marked improvement this week.
Store heifers – under 400kgs – made from €1.95 up to €2.32 per kilo. AA/Her averaged at €2.17 per kilo.
Butchers heifers – 400kgs + – these heifers made from €1.96 up to €2.47 per kilo, with AA/Her averaging at €2.12 per kilo.
Her 375kgs €840; AA 371kgs €830; Lim 486kgs €1,200; AA 550kgs €1,220; AA 605kgs €1,300.
DAIRY SALES
Last Friday saw our first dairy sale of 2021. A very strong trade was seen for all cows, with in-calf heifers making from €1,200 up to €1,700.
We have many countrywide enquiries for all dairy stock and we are accepting entries for our next dairy sale on Friday, January 29.
