Wexford Farmers’ Co-Operative (Enniscorthy Mart) manager Kevin Murphy described Thursday’s weanling sale as ‘our biggest weanling sale of the season so far’.
The weekly weanling sale took place on Thursday, October 21, with a large entry of both suckler-bred and dairy-bred weanlings on show.
Earlier this week Agriland spoke with some mart managers about the autumn-born calf sales as they kick-off at marts.
Enniscorthy Mart sale insights
Agriland spoke with Enniscorthy Mart manager Kevin Murphy to obtain some insight into the sale. He stated: “There was a mix of quality on offer with a large entry of both suckler-bred and dairy-bred weanlings on show.
“The average weight of the weanlings on offer is dropping and so is the supply of quality weanlings as the weeks progress.”
But Kevin stated that buyers are still eager for weanlings as there hasn’t been a big supply as of yet.
Commenting on some of the prices achieved at Thursday’s sale, Kevin stated: “There were plenty of buyers for all types of weanlings, with buyers opting to pay a premium price for the quality lots.
“The suckler-bred weanling bulls ranged from €680 up to €1,310, with top price going to an autumn-born Simmental bull weighing 610kg.
“The heifers were also a strong trade, ranging from €650 for lighter, plainer heifers, up to €1,150 for fancier types.”
Sample prices from weanling sale:
- 610kg Simmental bull sold for €1,310 or €2.15/kg;
- 530kg Limousin bull sold for €1,180 or €2.23/kg;
- 370kg Limousin bull sold for €1,030 or €2.78/kg;
- 300kg Limousin bull sold for €910 or €3.03/kg;
- 400kg Limousin heifer sold for €1,000 or €2.50/kg;
- Three 280kg Charolais heifers sold for €810 or €2.89/kg;
- Three 273kg Charolais heifers sold for €740 or €2.71/kg;
- 300kg Charolais heifers sold for €840 or €2.80/kg.
Commenting on the sale further, Kevin stated: “There was also a good number of spring-born, dairy-bred weanlings on offer.
“They were met with an excellent trade with nice Angus and Limousin calves making between €2.09/kg and €2.63/kg.
“Friesians were selling from €1.41/kg for plainer lots up to €1.80/kg for those stronger lots,” Kevin concluded.