Such is the level of positivity currently in the beef trade, with the subsequent strong trade for weanlings and store cattle, that one beef farmer recently remarked to Agriland that he believes 'beef is the new dairy', as regards the most lucrative farm enterprise to be involved in.

In the past week, as high as €7.41/kg was paid for weanling bulls at Carnew Mart in Co. Wicklow, with heavy store heifers up €1/kg live weight on 12 months ago at Athenry Mart in Co. Galway, and up to €4.76/kg paid for bullocks in the 400-500kg weight category at Ballina Mart, Co. Mayo.

The strong market prices are a welcome uplift for farmers with cattle to sell and will go some way in helping to offset the rising costs faced by farmers in recent years.

There were almost 1,000 head of cattle on offer at Carnew Mart on Saturday, March 1. Included in the sale was the monthly E and U Grade cattle sale.

Heifer prices from the sale at Carnew Mart:

528kg Limousin-cross heifer sold for €2,440 or €4.62/kg;
Four Hereford-cross heifers with an average weight of 142kg sold for €650 or €4.59/kg;
494kg Belgian Blue-cross heifer sold for €2,260 or €4.57/kg;
292kg Limousin-cross heifer sold for €1,320 or €4.52/kg.

Carnew Mart's Eugene Clune said: "Cattle met a super trade with farmers, exporters, and factory agents crying out for stock.

Bullock prices from the sale at Carnew Mart:

Three Limousin bullocks with an average weight of 388kg sold for €1,710 or €4.41/kg;
590kg Limousin bullock sold for €2,590 or €4.39/kg;
664kg Limousin bullock sold for €2,890 or €4.35/kg;
Two Belgian Blue-cross bullocks with an average weight of 622kg sold for €2,670 or €4.29/kg;
490kg Limousin-cross bullock sold for €2,100 or €4.29/kg;
890kg Charolais-cross bullock sold for €2,940 or €3.30/kg.

"Once again prices bounced forward with the majority of quality cattle selling over €4.00/kg and even as high as €6.00-7.00/kg paid for some exceptional E and U Grade cattle, with buyers from Kerry to Donegal and everywhere in between, tuning in online to the sale," Clune said.

Weanling bull prices from Carnew Mart:

324kg Belgian Blue bull sold for €2,400 or €7.41/kg;
386kg Belgian Blue bull sold for €2,680 or €6.94/kg;
270kg Limousin bull sold for €1,400 or €5.91/kg;
366kg Limousin-cross bull sold for €1,840 or €5.03/kg;
450kg Limousin bull sold for €2,250 or €5.00/kg;
Two Limousin bulls weighing 277kg sold for €1,380 or €4.98/kg.

Athenry Mart hosted its weekly general cattle sale on Tuesday, March 4, with trade driven on by the smaller numbers on offer.

Mart manager Padraig Fahy said: "Competition around the ring was evident particularly for cows weighing in excess of 600kg.

"Cows weighing between 400-600kg held firm this week, having witnessed a slight increase seven days ago, holding at just over €2.70/kg."

Cow prices from Athenry Mart:

465kg Limousin cow sold for €1,400 or €3.01/kg;
580kg Simmental cow sold for €1,760 or €3.03/kg;
565kg Angus cow sold for €1,720 or €3.04/kg;
570kg Friesian cow sold for €1,620 or €2.84/kg.

On the trade for heifers, the Athenry mart manager said: "There was another price boost for the heifers this week, as the trade for heifers sitting in the 500kg to 600kg weight bracket was €1/kg dearer on average than 12 months ago."

500-600kg heifers reached an average price of €3.82/kg with the maximum price achieved being €4.28/kg for a 535kg Charolais heifer, with the hammer falling at €2,290.

Heifers in the 400-500kg weight bracket also saw their average price per kilo rise 9c/kg to €3.56/kg representing a boost of €36-45/head - depending on the weight of the animal.

Similar to the heifer trade, bullocks in the 400-600kg weight bracket witnessed a boost with their average price per kilo at just under €3.60/kg - a boost of approximately 15c/kg on last week, or a jump in price of €60-80/head depending on the weight of the animal.

Cattle in excess of 600kg also saw a boost of €40/head on average this week, with their average price sitting at €3.75/kg.

The top price animal was a Limousin bullock weighing 775kg, which made €2,910 or €3.75/kg.

Ballina Mart (Mayo-Sligo Co-op Mart) hosted its weekly general cattle sale on Tuesday, March 4, with stock over 600kg having increased in price again with demand coming from local buyers, agents and exporters, according to mart manager Billy Loftus.

The average and top sale prices/kg achieved in each weight category are as follows:

Bullocks in the 400-500kg weight category averaged €3.81/kg topping out at €4.76/kg;
Bullocks in the 500kg-600kg weight category averaged €3.79/kg topping out at €4.26/kg;
Bullocks in the 600-700kg weight category averaged €3.88/kg topping out at €4.27/kg;
Bullocks weighing over 700kg averaged €4.01/kg topping out at €4.12/kg.

The mart manager said: "We had another week with a belter of a heifer trade that is currently attracting new exporters buying heifers to be exported directly via our export centre weekly."

The average and top sale prices/kg achieved in each weight category are as follows:

Heifers in the 400-500kg weight category averaged €3.74/kg topping out at €4.61/kg;
Heifers in the 500-600kg weight category averaged €3.77/kg topping out at €4.51/kg;
Heifers in the 600-700kg weight category averaged €3.89/kg topping out at €4.30/kg;
Heifers weighing over 700kg averaged €4.01/kg.

Weanling heifers and bulls were a very strong trade in the sale with a range of customers for these types of cattle.

The cull cow trade saw "another increase in cow prices" which is "a reflection of the market and the demand for factory-fit beef cows", according to the mart manager.