The question being asked by many is, if these are the prices, now what will they be like when grass starts to appear? The temptation of course is to say dearer.
owever, we shouldn’t forget that the way beef is produced in this country is changing: some traditional fatteners brought their stock through last summer and on into the autumn before selling them for further finishing to an expanding feedlot industry.
Surely some of those farmers will shy away this spring from buying that forward 600kg store, and invest in a lighter, cheaper animal?
So how will this play out as we go further into the year? While the grass farmers are not yet out in any numbers, some are.
They are buying those lighter animals at 400-500kg with a view of putting them to grass after a month or so of feeding — buying now to get ahead of the expected rush in March and April.
William Jones pointed to a selection of 410-455kg Limousin and Angus bullocks being bought by grazing farmers for €2.75-3.25/kg at Ballymahon last.
While numbers are bigger than normal, up to half the stock on offer in some marts are cull cows, with bullocks relatively scare in places — and those on offer being mainly above 550kg and going for immediate feeding.
Stephen Hannon of the Aurivo group reported a “huge sale for the time of year”, with 960 entered in Balla.
He said prices for the top-end forward bullock moved up another 10c/kg to €2.90-3.00/kg; this in turn pulled the next tier to €2.70-2.80/kg.
Stephen Reckons a fear of increased feed costs combined with very strong mart prices was bringing cattle out that otherwise might not appear for a few months.
This leads to the next question: with sale numbers continuing to be largely above normal for the time of year, what will be there come March, April and May?
Of course, numbers have never failed to appear once the grass starts to come, but with the fall in the suckler herd, we have seen, and will continue to see, fewer better-conformation stock going under the hammer.
Two years ago Jim Bushe of New Ross told me that one of his main customers for Charolais bullocks had switched to buying Angus because the numbers of Charolais he wanted were just not there.
New Ross is typical of what has happened in many areas in the east and south over the last number of years as dairying has expanded: many of those in suckling or mixed farm enterprises — especially if they are younger — look at their businesses and decide to abandon the drystock element.
So suckling and the production of that better-conformation animal has become more and more concentrated in the west and north-west, leaving the rest of the country to deal with increased numbers of dairy-cross Angus, Hereford and Holstein Friesians.
In the know-around the marts
Ennis
With a fat stock show and sale of heifers, cull cows and bullocks over two days, Martin McNamara was Mr Beef last week.
A good share of what was on show was “forward but not fully finished”.
Sample prices among the bullocks included twelve 750kg Charolais at €2.92/kg, with ten at 515kg averaging €3.12/kg, while five 590kg Angus headed north at €2.66/kg.
Among the stores, three 475kg Charolais made €3.03/kg, with two at 432kg averaging €2.98/kg.
The general run of continental heifers sold from €2.60-3.00/kg, while the better cull cow made €2.60-3.20/kg, with one 740kg Belgian Blue making €3.50/kg.
balla
At 960 the turnout was “huge for the time of year”. Stephen Hannon said the tops of the beef and forward bullocks have moved to €2.90-3.00+/kg.
However, six 690kg Charolais at €2.70/kg represented a fair average overall average for those over 600kg.
For the farmer wishing to keep his hand in at lower money but potentially not as fancy an animal , €2.53/kg got you 280kg yearlings. The better-made Angus 340kg store out of a Friesian cow averaged €2.23/kg.
This is quality country, however, and the top continental breeding heifers made €2.90-3.27/kg.
Raphoe
Historically, Donegal was a bastion of continental thinking when it came to beef breeding. Not any more.
With dairying expanding, Continental, Angus or Friesian dairy crosses are becoming a more common sight. Meaning that while forward-type continental animals here made up to €2.90/kg, Angus was not that far behind, topping out at €2.80/kg.
For those with Friesians, trade was also good with bullocks making €1.80-2.20/kg.
On the continental side the best of the bulls and bullocks made up to €3/kg, while heifers were €2.30-3.40/kg.
Castlerea
A large sale that saw the trade hold well, with samples among the bullocks seeing a 485kg Limousin make €3.09/kg, with a 465kg Charolais making €2.94/kg, while a 450kg Limousin made €2.84/kg.
A selection of Angus from 580-700kg sold from €2.51-2.64/kg, with a 680kg Charolais making €2.48/kg.
On the heifer side a 625kg Aubrac made €2.67/kg followed by a 655g Charolais at €2.75/kg, with a 405kg Limousin beating all comers at €3.11/kg.
On the weanling side heavier bulls included a 480kg and 495kg Charolais who sold for €2.77 and €2.85/kg, with a 425kg Charolais making €2.87/kg.
Blessington
Trade here was “strong to very strong” as beef bullocks made €820-1,090/hd over the €/kg, with beef heifers €600-1,010/hd.
On the store front, continental bullocks sold for €480-860/hd over the €/kg, with Hereford and Angus stores €440-680/hd over, while Friesian stores made €220-440/hd over the weight.
Continental store heifers sold for €460-750/hd over the weight with Hereford and Angus types making €400-570/hd with the €/kg.
Beef cows sold from €380-760/hd with the €/kg, while feeders made €180-350/hd over the €/kg.
Ballinakill
A strong entry of 500, yet prices rose by €40-60/hd as demand outstripped supply.
This left heavy bullocks trading from €2.05-2.80/kg, with forward stores €2.20-3.10/kg while lighter stores made €2.30-3.40/kg.
On the heifer side beef sold for €2.10-3.25/kg with stores making €2.25-3.40/kg.
Weanling heifers made €2.30-3.30/kg with bulls selling from €2.20-2.25/kg.
Dry cows sold for €1.75-2.60/kg.
Ballymahon
William Jones reported a very strong trade, especially among the cull cows, where the top call saw an Aberdeen Angus fetch €2,080.
Other notable prices included an 830kg Limousin at €1,890, a 700kg Charolais at €1,500 and a 905kg Shorthorn at €2,050.
Among the bullocks a black 418kg Limousin made €1,360, with a red 410kg Limousin at €1,350, while a 455kg Angus sold for €1,250.
William said there was little sold for less than €800/hd with the weight.