Last Tuesday (October 23), Kilkenny Mart held a weanling sale and a “good yard” of 380 weanlings met a lively trade, according to the mart’s auctioneer, George Candler.
George noted that both farmers and exporters competed for stock at the ringside, although exporters were only interested in dairy-influenced Aberdeen Angus, Hereford and Friesian weanling bulls – weighing between 250-320kg.
These buyers were willing to pay anywhere from €1.30/kg up to €2.00/kg; however, €2.00/kg was only paid for the quality lots.
Also, on the day, well-known Charolais breeder Christy Comerford had a number of weanlings entered into the sale. The top-priced bull sold for €1,260 or €3.15/kg; he weighed 400kg.
Bull weanlings – weighing less than 300kg – made €350-800/head or €1.35-2.71/kg, while bulls falling into the 300-400kg category sold for €750-1,060/head or €2.00-2.75/kg.
In addition, heavier bulls (+400kg) went under the hammer for €950-1,260 or €2.10-3.15/kg.
- Charolais: 420kg – €1,160 or €2.76/kg;
- Simmental: 505kg – €1,100 or €2.18/kg;
- Charolais: 390kg – €1,060 or €2.72/kg;
- Limousin: 340kg – €850 or €2.50/kg;
- Friesian: 260kg – €360 or €1.38/kg;
- Charolais: 230kg – €615 or €2.67/kg.
A number of heifer weanlings also passed through the ring of Kilkenny Mart. Like the bulls, these lots met a good trade.
Heifers weighing <300kg went under the hammer for €550-700/head or €2.10-2.70/kg. Heifers weighing between 300kg and 400kg made €700-1,110 or €2.00-2.60/kg.
The heavier lots weighing in excess of 400kg sold for €820-970/head or €2.10-2.40/kg. A top price of €1,110 or €3.35/kg was paid for a continental heifer; she weighed 335kg.
- Charolais: 420kg – €930 or €2.21/kg;
- Charolais: 405kg – €970 or €2.40/kg;
- Charolais: 370kg – €960 or €2.59/kg;
- Limousin: 300kg – €710 or €2.37/kg;
- Blonde d’Aquitaine: 290kg – €700 or €2.41/kg;
- Limousin: 230kg – €570 or €2.48/kg.