There is plenty of positivity to report in the mart trade for weanlings around the country, as the numbers of weanling on offer generally tend to rise into the final quarter of the year.
While the numbers of suckler-bred weanlings being produced annually is in decline, the demand for quality weanlings remains strong with heavy competition around the ring from a range of customers.
Farmer buyers are active as always for all specifications of weanlings and heavier types are being picked up by bull beef finishers, feedlots and agents, while the export market is remaining strong for a range of weanling types also.
Donegal Mart
There were over 320 weanlings, cows and calves on offer at Donegal Co-op Livestock Mart on Friday, October 4 and according to mart manager Eimear McGuinness “trade is good and prices are up”.
She said that while costs have also increased, “€3/kg used to be a great price for weanlings and now, there are a lot of weanlings making from €3.00-4.00/kg”.
There were over 300 weanlings, cows and calves on offer in the Donegal town sale.
In the weanling bull sale, the top price per kilo went to a six month old 340kg Belgian Blue calf that sold for €1,600 or €4.71/kg. This bull was sold by a farmer from Pettigo, Co. Donegal.
Over 10 bulls cleared the €4/kg price mark in the sale.
Weanling heifers topped out at €6.01/kg for a six-month-old Belgian Blue heifer weighing 336kg that sold for €2,020. This heifer was owned by a farmer from Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.
Carrigallen Mart
There were over 500 weanling bulls on offer at GVM Carrigallen Mart, Co. Leitrim, on Saturday, October 5, with a good clearance on the day, according to mart manager Helen Kells.
The mart will host its show and sale of weanling heifers on Saturday, October 12.
Some of the top prices from the weanling bull sale at Carrigallen Mart included €2,300 for the champion bull owned by Andy Lohan. Weighing 420kg, the Charolais-cross bull sold for €2,300 or €5.48/kg.
Another 430kg Charolais bull sold for €1,670 or €3.88/kg and a 390kg Belgian Blue bull sold for €1,300 or €3.33/kg.
Dowra Mart
In Dowra Mart, Co. Cavan on Saturday, October 5, there was a big sale with over 800 head of cattle sold.
Over 30 cows made over €2,000 in the sale and dry cows topped out at €2,560 for a 785kg Blonde d’Aquitaine.
In the weanling sales at Dowra, a Charolais-cross heifer weighing 310kg sold for €1,430 or €4.61/kg. A Charolais-cross bull weanling weighing 245kg sold for €1,110 or €4.49/kg.
Carnew Mart
There were 392 head of weanlings on offer at the annual commercial Limousin weanling show and sale at Carnew Mart, Co. Wicklow on Wednesday, October 2.
The sale was sponsored by Irish Limousin Cattle Society and heifers saw an increase of between €50 – €80/head on last year with a top price of €1,250 or €4.08/kg for a 306kg Limousin-cross heifer.
Weanling bulls were “nearly all making over €3.00/kg” according to Carnew Mart’s Eugene Clune with a top price of €1,460 or €4.14/kg for a 352KG Limousin-cross bull.