News this week that the Algerian market has "temporarily closed" to cattle imports, including Irish weanlings, has seen export buyer activity ease at several mart sales countrywide this week.

Some of the key Irish weanling exporters have stalled buying stock this week, but farmer customers and the remaining weanling export buyers are helping to underpin the weanling trade.

There were over 1,000 head of cattle on offer at the weanling sale at Ennis Mart, Co. Clare on Tuesday, October 27.

Notable prices from the weanling bull sale at Ennis Mart:

A 275kg Charolais bull sold for €1,990 (€7.24/kg);
A 390kg Limousin bull sold for €2,110 (€5.41/kg);
A 290kg Limousin bull sold for €1,770 (€6.10/kg);
A 345kg Charolais bull sold for €2,040 (€5.91/kg);
Two 287kg Charolais bulls sold for €1,760 each (€6.13/kg);
Three 318kg Charolais bulls sold for €2,000 each (€6.29/kg);
Three 278kg Limousin bulls sold for €1,680 each (€6.04/kg);
A 315kg Charolais bull sold for €1,900 (€6.03/kg);
A 435kg Limousin bull sold for €2,500 (€5.75/kg);
Three 400kg Charolais bulls sold for €2,120 each (€5.30/kg);
A 440kg Aberdeen Angus bull sold for €2,000 (€4.55/kg);
A 400kg Aberdeen Angus bull sold for €1,560 (€3.90/kg).

Speaking to Agriland after the sale, mart manager Martin McNamara acknowledged that buying activity from shippers was "quieter".

Despite this, 12% of the weanling bulls in the sale were bought by exporters, down from the usual 30% of weanling bulls that were being bought by exporters at the sale in the previous four weeks.

He said that there was a lift in the number of farmer customers active in the sale, with weanling bulls around 300kgs holding "a solid trade".

Weanling heifer prices from Ennis Mart:

A 280kg Charolais heifer sold for €1,530 (€5.46/kg);
A 365kg Limousin heifer sold for €1,830 (€5.01/kg);
Three 250kg Limousin heifers sold for €1,210 each (€4.84/kg);
Three 312kg Limousin heifers sold for €1,410 each (€4.52/kg);
A 255kg Limousin heifer sold for €1,300 (€5.10/kg);
A 400kg Limousin heifer sold for €2,720 (€6.80/kg);
A 340kg Limousin heifer sold for €2,000 (€5.88/kg);
A 490kg Belgian Blue heifer sold for €2,200 (€4.49/kg);
A 370kg Charolais heifer sold for €2,000 (€5.41/kg).

McNamara said that weanling bulls over 300kg were back 10c/kg and it was a similar story in the heifer ring.

The heifers up to 300kg were "a solid trade and 300-400kg heifers were easier by 10c/kg, with heifers over 400kgs a similar trade to last week".

There was a large entry of suckling stock in the Tuesday sale and these made up to €3,700.

Runner heifers made up to €1,210 and runner bulls made to €1,780.

Comment from weanling sale at Carnaross Mart

Carnaross Mart in Co. Meath hosted its weekly weanling sale on Tuesday (October 27), with almost 500 bulls and 350 weanling heifers on offer in the sale.

Mart manager Padraig McElroy told Agriland that there was still some export buying activity at the Co. Meath sale this week.

He added that Northern Ireland customers remained highly active in the sale with approximately 100 head of cattle from the Tuesday sale at Carnaross secured by northern customers.

McElroy also said that farmer buyer activity pushed on at the Tuesday evening sale, with the tops of the continental bulls still clearing €6.00/kg.

Some of the top prices from the bull sale at Carnaross:

A 230kg Limousin bull sold for €1,480 (€6.43/kg);
A 235kg Charolais bull sold for €1,380 (€5.87/kg);
A 315kg Limousin bull sold for €1,840 (€5.84/kg).

He also noted a 290kg Charolais heifer that sold for €1,890 or €6.52/kg, bought by a local farmer.

McElroy said that clearance rates remained just short of 100% at this week's weanling sale and noted that most sellers remain very happy with the current trade.