DESPITE an increase in numbers through the factories in late October – as compared to previous weeks – the cattle trade looks set to stay buoyant as the Christmas orders start to arrive in.

Marts and IFA representatives are reporting ‘no let-up’ in the demand for cattle with many farmers now opting for a mart sale, even with heavier stock, rather than the factory option.

Galway IFA Livestock Representative, Micheál Haverty, told the Farming Tribune that the cattle numbers ‘just aren’t there’ to meet the demand, with little sign of any change in that trend over the short to medium term.

“Given the demand for cattle and beef, both on the home market and internationally, there is certainly no indication over the coming months of any change in that trend,” said Micheál Haverty.

He said that a ‘boycott of sorts’ by some of the exporters on weanling purchases at marts last month – supposedly on animal vaccination and dosing issues – had little or no impact on the mart trade.

Galway IFA Chairman, Stephen Canavan, told the Farming Tribune that the supply of cattle both at the marts and the factories was just not meeting the demand that was there.

“There is real competition in the market for all types of cattle from weanlings to cull cows. Factors like the recent spell        of wet weather and some          exporters not buying for a week or two, have had no impact on the market,” said Stephen Canavan.

The message is the same from all of Galway’s leading marts with Gort pointing out this week, that on average, weanling bulls and heifers were making €2 per kg more than this time last year, while bullocks were ‘€1,000 up’ per head as compared to Autumn 2024.

Loughrea Mart reported a ‘whopping trade’ for weanlings on Friday night with bulls making up to €8.97/kg while heifers topped out at €6.92 – prices that would have been unimaginable less than a year ago.

Cull cows at Tuam last Monday made close on €3,500 while at Headford Mart last weekend many of the weanlings sold for between €2,000 and €3,000.

While official factory quotes for cattle are nearly all coming in around the €7.60/kg mark, word on the ground is that €8/kg is being paid as the meat plants struggle to fill orders.

The temporary rise in cattle numbers being processed at the factories, in the week ending October 26th, has been attributed – at least in part – to the weather, with the grass farmers ‘shifting stock’ as the ground softens.

Pictured: Stephen Canavan: Supply not meeting demand.