Golden Vale Marts' special weanling sale in Abbeyfeale Mart, Co. Limerick on Saturday (August 15) saw a strong trade as several animals broke the €6.00/kg barrier.

The stand-out sale of the day was for the Champion heifer, a 370kg Belgian Blue-cross weanling heifer that sold for €5,350 at €14.46/kg.

Another 370kg Belgian Blue-cross weanling heifer sold for €2,620 at €7.08/kg, while a 440kg Belgian Blue-cross weanling heifer sold for €3,050 at €6.93/kg.

More notable sales from the heifer ring are listed below:

A 415kg Belgian Blue-cross heifer sold for €2,500 at €6.02/kg;
A 375kg Blonde D'Aquitaine heifer sold for €1,840 at €4.91/kg;
A 435kg Limousin-cross heifer sold for €2,300 at €5.29/kg.

Speaking to Agriland after the sale, Abbeyfeale Mart's Michael Ward was very happy with the day, considering the uncertainty in the market as drought, export concerns, and factory cuts dominated discussions ringside.

He outlined that there was strong exporter demand in Limerick, as the mart saw the majority of weanling bulls sold to exporters.

Commenting on the drought, Ward noted that the soil was "blacker" in the area, which helped reduce the effects of the lack of rain on growth.

He added that while the trade was not as "hot" as last year, the quality was similar with some excellent bullocks in the ring.

Commenting on the mood ringside, Ward said that farmers were "very anxious reading reports on their phones" but were happier leaving, especially "heifer men".

Ward added that demand was strong from across the country with buyers from Kerry all the way up to Kerry and as far across as Laois and Kilkenny for good continental weanlings.

Weanling bull ring

Weanling bulls averaged around €5.20-€5.30/kg. The top call went to a 485kg Belgian Blue-cross that sold for €3,200 at €6.60/kg.

Other notable sales include the €2,500 paid for a 370kg Belgian Blue bull at €6.76/kg, and the €1,990 paid for a 315kg Belgian Blue-cross bull at €6.32/kg.

Some other sample prices for weanling bulls include:

A 395kg Belgian Blue-cross bull sold for €2,480 at €6.28/kg;
A 350kg Belgian Blue-cross bull sold for €1,970 at €5.63/kg;
A 255kg Limousin-cross bull sold for €1,330 at €5.22/kg;
A 240kg Limousin-cross bull sold for €1,410 at €5.88/kg.

The weanling heifer trade was not as strong for beef but still saw solid prices with heifers averaging from €4.50-€5.00/kg.

There was a number of runners sold at the mart, with prices up to €1,450/head.

Some impressive sales include the 190kg Limousin-cross bull sold for €1,090 at €5.74/kg, and the €1,350 a 250kg Limousin bull sold for at €5.40/kg.

A pen of four Angus-cross bull runners weighing on average 238kg, sold for €980/head at €4.12/kg.

One Limousin-cross heifer runner weighing 230kg sold for €1,130 at €4.91/kg, while another Limousin-cross heifer runner weighing 225kg sold for €1,090 at €4.84/kg.

A number of suckler heifers in calf saw a strong trade. The top call went to two Belgian Blue-cross suckler heifers, each springing to a pure breed Limousin, that sold for €3,600/head.

Another Limousin-cross suckler heifer due to calve in October to a pure breed Limousin sold for €3,420.