Kilkenny Market hosted its weekly livestock auction on Thursday (July 16), with 700 head of cattle, including a handful of Wagyu cows, on offer, with prices stabilizing after last week’s exceptional sale.
Selling was greater than in previous weeks with demand greater than supply.
The amount of heavy beef and bulls across the loop was particularly evident.
Bulls shop forward 600kg and above averaged €3.78/kg, with this remaining unchanged from last week’s trading.
However, the average price per person fell by €32 per person, but remained at €2,550 during this week’s trading.
Here are some sample bull prices from the sale:
- A 960kg Limousin bull fetched €3,580 at €3.73 per kilogram;
- Two Charolais bulls weighing 800kg made €3,260 per head at €4.08 per kilogram;
- Two 720kg Angus bulls achieved €2,900 a head at €4.03 per kg.
Bulls are in the 500-600 kg range It sold for €1,550-€2,270 and averaged €2,004 per head, down €72 on last week.
The average kilogram also decreased by €0.14/kg to reach €3.61/kg.
The highest result in this range went to a 570kg Charolais bull, which achieved €2,270 or €3.98 per kilogram.
Another Limousin bull weighing 510kg sold for €2,190 or €4.29/kg, while a pen of five Friesian bulls weighing an average of 580kg sold for €1,900/head or €3.28/kg.
Calves weighing 400 kg – 500 kg The category sold for an average of €4.48/kg, compared to €4.12/kg last week. The average per person jumped to 97 euros.
Some of the top sellers in this range are listed below:
- A 480 kg Limousin bull sold for 2,260 euros, or 4.71 euros per kilogram;
- Two 450kg Limousin bulls sold for €2,000 per head or €4.44 per kilogram;
- Two Charolais bulls weighing 485kg sold for €2,110 per head or €4.35 per kilogram.
Light shop bulls Products weighing less than 400 kg saw the average price per kilogram rise from €0.36/kg to €4.48/kg.
The average price per person jumped 139 euros to 1,613 euros per person, indicating renewed demand for light stocks after a period of calm.
The highest price per kilogram went to two Charolais bulls, each weighing 300 kg, who achieved 5.77 euros per kilogram or 1,730 euros per head.
The highest result overall went to two Charolais bulls, each weighing 380 kg, who earned €2,040 per head or €5.37 per kilogram.
Calves
Cow calves have seen commercial boosts across the board.
Store beef calves ahead It averaged 8 cents higher than last week but the average/head fell, suggesting the stock will likely be lighter this week but offers higher potential.
Here are some sample prices for calves from sale:
- Two Angus heifers weighing 505kg each sold for €1,850/head or €3.66/kg;
- Two Limousin heifers weighing 425kg each sold for €2,140 per head at €5.04 per kg;
- Three Limousin cows, each weighing 445kg, sold for €2,110 per head or €4.74 per kilogram.
Light stocked calves The average price saw an increase of €0.20/kg to reach €4.30/kg.
The average price per head ranged from 910 euros to a maximum of 2,080 euros for a limousine wheel weighing 395 kg, equivalent to 5.27 euros per kilogram.
Commenting on the sale, George Candler, auctioneer at Kilkenny Mart, noted a decline in numbers of light to medium-weight stores, with some potential buyers not meeting their requirements.
This scarcity is likely the reason behind the high prices of cattle at calf shops in particular.
Beef calves are heavier With an average of €3.90/kg.
Some sample prices from the sale can be seen below:
- Two limousines weighing 650 kg each sold for €2,450 per head or €3.77 per kilogram;
- Two wagyu steers weighing 618kg each sold for €2,920 per head or €4.72 per kilogram;
- Three Wagyu cows weighing an average of 570kg sold for €2,820 per head or €4.95 per kilogram;
- Two Hereford heifers weighing 565kg each sold for €1,980 per head or €3.50 per kilogram.
There were 82 Culling of cows On offer at Kilkenny Mart, Friesian culling prices range from €2.00 to €3.35/kg, while Continental culls range from €3.40 to €4.15/kg.
