Cattle trade looks good for Winter

ALL the pointers are good for a lively winter cattle trade – from weanlings through to finished cattle – a livestock forum in Ballinasloe heard this week.

The forum at Ballinasloe Mart on Tuesday night was addressed by Joe Burke of Bord Bia and by Henry Burns, National Chairman of the IFA Livestock Committee.

Galway IFA Chairman, Michael Flynn, told the Farming Tribune that while prices at the factories had gone steadily ‘the right way’ over recent weeks, the message to farmers was ‘to bargain and to bargain hard’.

“The cattle numbers have fallen over recent weeks and the factories are finding it hard to source supplies. Farmers really need to drive a hard deal – that extra bit of money is out there for them,” said Michael Flynn.

This week, Joe Healy, the Galway IFA Farm Business Services and Inputs Chairman and market analyst, advised farmers that a gap of between 10c/kg and 20c/kg was emerging over recent weeks between a soft and a hard sell approach from farmers.

According to Michael Flynn, farmers are at last beginning to emerge from the problems of last Spring with a lot more farmer activity around the mart sales rings.

“We are now pushing into the second half of October and really there is a great coat of grass everywhere. If ground conditions hold up, many farmers will be out-wintering their animals until late November – that would be just a great start to the Winter,” said Michael Flynn.

At Monday night’s forum, Henry Burns also stressed the vital role played by the live exports trade. He said that the more animals that left on the hoof from Ireland, the more pressure that would come on the meat plants to pay prices comparable to what was available in the UK.

He said that there was a very strong live export trade for weanlings to Italy and Spain while other markets like Tunisia and Libya were also providing important outlets for Irish cattle.

Joe Burke of Bord Bia again highlighted the reputation of Irish beef on the international market – a premium product renowned for its quality and its production from a green environment.

This week, steers are generally being quoted at €4/kg at the meat plants and heifers at €4.05/kg to €4.10/kg, but with more available in bargaining.

Top U-grade cull cows are making up to €3.80/kg down to €3.10/kg for poorer quality Ps with top young bulls being quoted at the €4.15/kg mark.