There were approximately 550 weanlings on offer at Clare Mart's weanling sale in Ennis, Co. Clare on Tuesday (September 8).

Speaking to Agriland after the sale, mart manager Martin McNamara said weanling bulls and heifers up to 450kg in weight were up in price by approximately 10c/kg on the previous week's sale.

However, he said the heavier stock in the sale over 450kg saw "no great change" in prices.

Commenting on the level of buyer activity, McNamara said: "There was definitely more farmer customers about for that 280-350kg bull weanling."

Prices for weanling bulls under 400kg in the sale:

A 330kg Charolais bull sold for €2,160 or €6.55/kg;
Three 290kg Charolais bulls sold for €1,740/head or €6.00/kg;
A 215kg Charolais bull sold for €1,600 or €7.44/kg;
Four 375kg Charolais bulls sold for €2,340 or €6.24/kg;
A 290kg Charolais bull sold for €1,830 or €6.31/kg;
A 320kg Limousin bull sold for €2,220 or €6.94/kg;

On the weanling bull prices over 400kg, a 425kg Charolais bull sold for €2,520 or €5.93/kg.

Another 455kg Limousin bull sold for €2,360 or €4.18/kg, while a batch of four Limousin bulls with an average weight of 412kg sold for €2,100/head or €5.09/kg.

A 480kg Charolais bull weanling sold for €2,400 or €5.00/kg.

Weanling heifer prices from the sale include:

A 285kg Limousin heifer sold for €1,550 or €5.43/kg;
Three Limousin heifers with an average weight of 307kg sold for €1,560 or €5.08/kg;
Four Charolais heifers with an average weight of 265kg sold for €1,360 or €5.13/kg;
A 420kg Limousin heifer sold for €2,000 or €4.76/kg;
A 395kg Limousin heifer sold for €1,900 or €4.81/kg;
Two Limousin heifers with an average weight of 407kg sold for €1,890 or €4.64/kg;
A 345kg Limousin heifer sold for €1,670 or €4.84/kg;
A 330kg Limousin heifer sold for €1,710 or €5.18/kg.

"The farmer buyers were out in a bit more force this week," McNamara said.

Prices for these types of weanlings were up approximately €30-€40/head on average for both the bulls and heifers.

He said the shippers or export buyers purchased 40-50% of the weanling bulls in the sale.

The mart manager noted that the exporters are "not over-anxious for bulls over 420kg" but are "more interested in the weanling bulls weighing from 320-420kg".

While the majority of the calves in the sale were suckler-bred, there was also a smaller selection of dairy-beef weanlings or 'runners' in the sale and prices of €700-900/head was the general run for these.

There was also a selection of in-calf suckler stock in the sale.

These "met a strong trade with in-calf lots making to €3,500 and pairs making to €3,850," the mart manager said.