Dairy Stock sales increase 150%. Rumour of Factory discounting Bulls in the autumn and hard stretched housewives limited spend will prevent rise in lamb prices.....

On looking back on the first 3 months of the year it is good to see an increase in all sectors of animals been sold in Kilkenny Mart. The most significant increase is for Dairy Stock sold with numbers up 150% on 2011 returns. The reason for this is the quality of the animals been offered for sale from top dairy farms in Kilkenny and surrounding counties. Many top dairy farmers specialise in producing fresh calved heifers year after year. These animals have lots of information behind them such as herd records E B I etc. The fact that many farmers have tested or injected their cows and heifers for BVD,IBR etc is also helpful for potential purchases. The fact that buyers travel a considerable distance to attend these sales is also a complement to the vendors. Interested parties should note that our Dairy sales take place every Monday (except Bank Holidays) when they are held on Tuesdays the sale takes place at 1.30pm .



Thursday cattle sale was somewhat smaller with less heifers on offer. Trade remains strong except for some plain animals which were harder to sell. A gap seems to have developed between bulls and bullocks with much more customers for steers or bullocks. If you produce bulls it is true that they gain weight more quickly but when selling you have a more limited buyer base. The rumour mill is suggesting that factories will start discounting bulls next autumn. If you traditionally produce steers or bullocks and feel you might change over to bull production think long and hard .Remember bullocks / steers have a traditional markets which have been built up over a long number of years and will need to be filled. An increases in bull beef means new markets need to be found which will make it more difficult to sell these animals. Farmers keep your options open and don�t put all your eggs into the one basket.



The sheep trade has remained static price wise over the past few weeks with very little change in price.




The wholesaler says that the housewife has limited money to spend and the expected lift in lamb prices may not happen. The good weather of the the past few months has helped lambs to thrive but it remains to be seen if the early lamb producer will be rewarded.

- Kilkenny Mart