The new TB regulations governing the selling of stock are causing confusion. The various Department documents on the subject are not easy to follow.
n essence the new rules require that from February 1, “All animals moving farm to farm or through marts must be tested within a certain time-frame.
“Initially cows of all ages and males over the age of 36 months that are moving farm to farm or through a mart must be TB tested during the previous six months.
“They must also be moving from a stove that has been tested in the last six months. If they do not fulfill both these requirements, they must then be tested 30 days prior to movement or within 30 days after movement into a new herd.
“Animals that require a test in the 30 days after movement will be restricted to the herd into which they have moved. This herd has 30 days to carry out a test on these animals.
“If after 30 days, the animals have not been tested, the herd will be restricted. If after another 60 days, the animals have still not been tested, the whole herd will be scheduled for a TB test.
“If the moved-in animal at any point is slaughtered, the restriction will be lifted, except where the herd has been listed for a full test.
“This allows the opportunity for cull cows to be purchased, fed and slaughtered without incurring the cost of testing.”
Joe Clune of Sixmilebridge was one of many mart managers who criticized how the Department have worded these changes.
“The wording has been so badly chosen that farmers are in a complete state of confusion — confusion that can only benefit the factories,” he claimed.
David Quinn of Carnew, however, is confident that the cull cow trade at the marts will not be affected
“The reality is that feedlots are the biggest purchaser of cull cows, and because anything they buy goes only one way — to the factory — these changes will not impact on the trade in any way,” he said.
His only concern is for those buying suckler cows.
“Suckler farmers need to be mindful that they don’t get caught out if they go to sell something they bought only to discover it needs to be tested,” he said.
Maurice Brosnan of Gortatlea and Stephen Hannon of the Aurivo group are both concerned that “if this is just the ‘initial’ stage of this new policy, how long before it is extended to everything?”
The big concern for the marts in the short term appears to be whether numbers of cull cows will be affected. Will the factories benefit from the confusion Joe Clune believes these changes will bring?
The next question is how the Department propose to establish if these rule changes actually make a difference to the control of TB? If there is no significant reduction in TB in cows and male cattle over 36 months, what then for any future expansion of this scheme?
As to how the trade is, “on fire” is the general consensus. I could give any number of examples — cull cows selling to €3.00/kg; heavy continental bullocks making €3.30/kg; and stores €3.40/kg. Things are going well.
Granted the majority may not make it to such highs, but when you see fourteen 648kg Friesian bullocks averaging €1,750/hd in Gortatlea and seven 595kg Friesians making €1,570/hd in Kilkenny, what more needs to be said?
In the know-around the marts
Carnew
Strong numbers and a stronger trade saw heavy continental cows sell to €2,660/hd, with stores making €1,100-1,810/hd.
Heavy Friesians sold to €1,920/h, with stores €550-1,250/h.
On the bullock side continental beef sold for €1,780-2,620 with forward types €1,250-1,800/hd. Heavy Angus and Herefords made €1,300-2,200/hd, with stores €1,000-1,620/hd.
Heavy Friesians sold to €1,960/hd with lighter types €450-1,300/hd.
Continental beef and forward heifers made €1,650-2,260/hd with stores €950-1,620/hd. Heavy Angus and Hereford heifers made €1,350-2,100/hd, with stores €850-1,560/hd.
balla
Trade here was also “up a few notches” as strong buying both ringside and online pushed bullocks under 400kg to an average of €3.13/kg, with those from 400-500kg averaging €2.91/kg, while 500kg+ stores averaged €3.00/kg .
Among the beef, quality 700kg+ steers sold for €3.20-3.40/kg. Heifers under 400kg averaged €2.96/kg with 400-500kgs on €2.90/kg and over 500kgs on €3.02/kg.
Weanling bulls under 350kg averaged €3.24/kg with 350-450kgs on €3.03/kg and over-450kgs on €2.82/kg.
Kilkenny
Numbers reached 940 including 235 cull cows. George Candler reported Beef and forward continental bullocks sold for €2.80-3.35/kg but the real meat in the sandwich was the €2.35-2.75/kg paid for beef and forward Friesians.
Stores from 400-600kg sold from €1.80-3.36/kg, with lighter steers €1.80-3.30/kg. Beef heifers made €2.40-3.10/kg with forward stores €2.35-3.23/kg and lighter heifers €1.80-3.30/kg.
On the cull cow side continentals sold from €1.60-2.76/kg with Friesians making €1.27-2.50/kg.
Kanturk
An entry of 270 saw continental dry cows sell to €1,215/hd with the €/kg, while Friesian culls topped out at €800/hd over the €/kg.
Angus and Hereford heifers sold to a top of €2.70/kg, with Angus and Hereford bullocks peaking at €2.85/kg. Samples on the bullock side included ten 590kg Angus at €1,680/hd and five 603kg Herefords €1,620/hd.
Among the heifers nine 295kg Angus averaged €750/hd with four 516kg Herefords making €1,320/hd, while five 460kg Limousins sold for €1,180/hd.
Gortatlea
Another fine sale. Among the 460 cull cows, well-finished Friesians sold for €2.30-2.50/kg, with stores making €1.60-2.00/kg and lesser stores €1.30-1.50/kg.
Hereford bullocks sold for €2.60-2.90/kg with the general run of Angus on €2.80-3.10/kg although the “real deal” best made as high as €3.30/kg.
Fourteen 648kg Friesian bullocks made €2.71/kg were as good a guide as any. The average heifer sold for €2.70-3.00/kg but top-end continental quality went from €3.00-3.50/kg.
Headford
A very good sale, with the cull cows including a 675kg Limousin at €2,000 with a 730kg Charolais making €2,060, while a 950kg Charolais clicked €2,520.
Bullock numbers were tidy but prices were strong. At the lower end 485kg Angus sold to €2.45/kg with a 400kg Hereford making €2.40/kg; top-end samples included a 570kg Limousin at €3.23/kg, with a 495kg Limousin clicking €3.37/kg while a 605kg Charolais sold for €3.21/kg.
Weanling heifers sold from €2.68-€3.33/kg, averaging €3.09/kg overall, while bulls made €2.64-3.43/kg, also averaging €3.09/kg.
Ennis
The poor weather affected the turnout but there were still just short of seven hundred cattle on offer.
There were an increased number of forward bullocks, with anything in the line of a quality store opening at €2.80/kg and liable to finish at €3.20-3.44/kg.
Those €3.00/kg+ averages were also available for beef and forward types, with a 725kg Charolais making €3.13/kg, while a 680kg Charolais sold for €3.28/kg.
Beef and forward heifers were also strong, with a lot around the €2.80-3.00/kg. If you wanted bragging rights you needed deep pockets as the top call saw a 480kg Limousin make €3.62/kg.