The weanling trade has strengthened on previous weeks, according to the country’s mart managers, with strong demand reported for weanling bulls.
Weanling bulls generally sold at €2.40-3.46/kg while the poorer quality lots traded from €2.05-2.40/kg. These lots had improved due to a combination of farmer and exporter demand, despite a reduction in total export numbers.
Despite the improvement in the weanling bull trade, the heifer trade has remained constant, but this trade is still strong and the hammer fell on these lots from €2.20-3.75/kg, with the latter being paid for export quality lots.
The trade for weanling bulls had improved in Roscommon Mart on Tuesday, according to the Mart Manager Maura Quigley.
There was a good entry of stock, she added, with over 450 weanlings passing through the ring. Farmers made their presence felt, but there were also a small number of exporters vying for export quality stock.
The trade for heifers was holding well with no significant changes in the prices paid for these lots and the hammer fell on these lots from €2.59-3.75/kg.
According to Quigley, the trade for weanling bulls had improved on previous weeks and these lots traded from €2.56-3.46/kg.
There was a large entry of weanlings on offer in Ballina Mart on Monday, according to the Mart Manager Billy Loftus.
According to Loftus, there was good demand around the ring for the top quality bulls, but the lessor lots were more difficult to sell.
In general, lots weighing 350-450kg traded from €2.25-2.95/kg while the lighter bulls weighing from 250-350kg sold from €650-975/head.
The Mart Manager added that the weanling heifer trade continues to be very strong, especially for the continental types with the hammer falling on these heifers from €2.70-3.45/kg.
There was a smaller weanling sale in Kilkenny Mart on Thursday with 150 lots passing through the ring, according to the Mart Manager Michael Lynch.
According to Lynch, all lots on offer met with a good selling trade and this was reflected in the prices achieved.
Weanling bulls weighing in excess of 400kg traded from €2.05-2.45/kg or €400-740 over, the lighter bulls (300-400kg) on offer also sold well and the hammer fell on these lots from €2.20-2.80/kg or €430-600 over.
The light bulls weighing less than 300kg also sold well and the hammer fell on these lots from €2.20-2.95/kg or €245-550 over.
The weanling heifers on offer also traded well, added Lynch, lots weighing over 400kg made €2.20-2.50/kg and the lighter lots (300-400kg) sold from €2.30-2.75/kg while small weanling heifers (<300kg) made €2.20-3.10/kg.
The numbers of weanlings on offer in Mid-Tipp Mart, Thurles are starting to wean, according to the Mart Manager Martin Ryan.
However, despite the reduction in numbers the prices paid for the 393 cattle on offer continued to hold up well, added the Mart Manager.
Weanling bulls traded well with Charolais and Limousin weanling bulls averaging €2.46/kg and €2.37/kg respectively.
There was also good demand for Hereford and Angus bulls which averaged €2.25/kg and €2.44/kg respectively.
There was also a smaller number of heifers on offer, added Ryan, but these lots remained in good demand and Charolais heifers averaged €2.52/kg.