There was a large show of cattle at the weekly weanling sale at Carnaross Mart, Kells, Co. Meath on Tuesday evening (October 8).

With two rings in operation, both weanling heifers and bulls saw a super trade with a good range of cattle on offer in both rings and a powerful customer base active at both rings also.

With plenty of positivity in the beef trade at present, farmers who have sold heavy cattle and are replacing these with weanlings are returning to the ring with plenty of buying power.

This strong farmer activity coupled with keen demand from Northern Ireland buyers and exporters is helping the trade along also.

Sample prices from the weanling bull ring:

Speaking to Agriland after the sale, Carnaross Mart manager Padraig McElroy said there were approximately 570 weanling bulls and 370 heifers on offer in the sale with a high clearance rate continuing to be achieved.

He added that export demand was strong with 180 cattle cleared for export from the sale and over half of these going to customers from Northern Ireland.

In the weanling bull ring, the top end of the bulls were making up to 4.20/kg and weanling heifers were making up to 4.00/kg for the tops on offer.

Sample prices from the heifer ring:

Commenting on the trade for other types of cattle in the mart, the manager said cows and calves made up to €2,660 for a Belgian Blue cow with a Charolais bull calf at foot.

The Carnaross Mart manager remains optimistic for the short-term cattle trade outlook and said buyer activity would suggest a strong final quarter to the year for the heavy cattle trade.