Prices boom lifts gloom

THE country might still be in the depths of the Covid crisis but prices for cattle, sheep and milk are hitting new heights this week as demand outstrips supply.

Local marts have reported prices of over €180 for lambs and up to €211 for cull ewes with the market being driven by a huge export demand, according to market sources.

Brian Hogan, Manager of Athenry Mart, told the Farming Tribune that it was something of a rarity to see both the sheep and cattle trade going so well at the same time.

“Often in the past with farming, if cattle were going strongly, sheep mightn’t be doing so well, and vice versa, but thankfully at present both markets are booming.

“It definitely is market driven – there is a huge demand out there for both cattle and sheep – and long may it continue,” Brian Hogan said.

He added that in the cattle trade, there was a particularly strong demand for stock that were ‘almost heavy enough’ for the factory, with really competitive online bidding. “We had a cull cow just over the 750kg mark on Tuesday making €1,670,” he said.

As regards sheep, he added, the word on the ground seemed to be that there was a very strong demand for Irish product across both the UK and EU markets while the Ramadan season would also increase demand at this time of year.

There are also strong indications from the dairy sector that 2021 is also going to be a very positive year with supply struggling to meet demand on a global scale for milk products.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.