Members of the Irish Farmers Journal and Full Health Medical teams were at Ennis Mart on Tuesday to carry out health checks and raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society as part of this month’s Fovember campaign.

There was particularly strong demand on the day for health checks, with all slots for the day fully booked out by 11am. Over 55 male and female farmers went through the health checks on the day. Comments from the ringside strongly suggested the need for a national campaign along the same lines to try and encourage farmers to undergo a medical check-up.

Busy cow ring

While the health checks were busy, so too were the ringsides. By far the busiest ring on the day was the cow ring, with in-calf and calved cows with calves at foot commanding strong farmer demand. As a result, good-quality calved cows sold from €1,500 to €1,800, with top-quality in-calf cows selling at similar prices. Age and quality were the key factors affecting prices on the day, although the star status was also a factor.

The day’s sale saw another strong entry of bull and heifer weanlings. Bulls were a shade better in terms of prices than the equivalent heifer. Bulls from 300kg to 400kg sold mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.55/kg with better-quality types making stronger prices. Lighter bulls commanded much stronger prices on a per kilo basis.

Heifers were a reasonably strong trade for good-quality types, but plainer heifers struggled a little more.

Full report this Thursday in the Irish Farmers Journal.