Saturday saw the annual autumn show and sale of weanling bulls take place at Tullow Mart.

Mart manager Eric Driver said that there was a good entry of over 300 bulls on offer.

This Limousin cross bull, born February 2019 and weighing 345kg sold for €800 (€2.32/kg).

He added that the quality of calves shown at the sale was very high once again, with farmers tending to hold on to their better calves specially for the sale.

He added that the trade overall was steady and in this unsettled time in the beef sector, the trade suggests that farmers continue to show a positive mantra for the future of beef farming.

This Limousin cross bull, born January 2019 and weighing 470kg sold for €1,130 (€2.40/kg).

Eric said that the trade was “lively” and that this was driven primarily by farmers and by exporters. He said that exporters were active for all types, with good competition between them for light weanling bulls, while other exporters were sourcing different types of bulls, meaning they were complementing each other.

This Limousin cross bull, born January 2019 and weighing 470kg sold for €1,090 (€2.32/kg).

A good proportion of the trade were heavy autumn and early spring 2018-born bulls. Prices were back on last year as a result of the current beef price difficulties, but overall they were not a bad trade.

This Charolais cross bull, born March 2019 and weighing 420kg sold for €1,020 (€2.43/kg).

Eric said that bull finishers were active, albeit at lower prices than last year.

Prices of those over 480kg ranged mainly from €2.00/kg for R grades to €2.20/kg for better-quality U grades and fancier bulls.

This pair of Limousin cross bulls, born October 2018 and weighing 510kg on average sold for €1,160 (€2.27/kg).

Bulls from 400kg to 480kg were a firm trade. The majority of demand stemmed from farmer buyers who were sourcing all types, mainly with a view to castrating and running as steers.

Prices in the main ranged from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg for good-quality continentals.

This Limousin cross bull, born June 2018 and weighing 515kg sold for €970 (€1.88/kg).

Eric said that there were some plainer types on offer also, which sold from about €2.00/kg upwards.

At the top of the market, exporters were active for top-quality Belgian Blue types, with prices of up to €2.80/kg paid.

This Charolais cross bull, born October 2018 and weighing 430kg sold for €920 (€2.14/kg).

Probably the best trade were lighter calves under 300kg. Eric said that these calves were a brisk trade due to lively exporter activity, but farmers were also active for all types.

This Limousin cross bull, born September 2018 and weighing 510kg sold for €1,005 (€1.97/kg).

Prices ranged mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.90/kg for better-quality types. Some of the best Belgian Blue and well-muscled calves sold for over €3.00/kg.

Commission rates are €10 to the buyer and minimum €9 to the seller.

These three Limousin cross bulls, born October 2018 and weighing 410kg on average sold for €800 each (€1.95/kg).

This Belgian Blue cross bull, born April 2019 and weighing 265kg sold for €670 (€2.53/kg).

This pair of Charolais cross bulls, born October 2018 and weighing 490kg on average sold for €1,130 each (€2.31/kg).