Camera at the Mart was at last Tuesday night’s weanling sale at Roscommon Mart. Demand was strong on the day for top-quality bulls and heifers, with farmers driving the trade.

Weanling bulls from 300kg to 400kg sold mainly from €2.40/kg to €2.55/kg, with top-quality muscled bulls making from €2.70/kg to €3.00/kg for extreme muscled types. Exporters battled it out with farmer buyers for choice lots.

Heavier bulls over 400kg were a steady trade, with prices ranging from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg. Lighter types were in strong demand also and prices ranged mainly from €2.80/kg to €2.90/kg for good-quality types, while top-quality bulls sold to over €3.10/kg.

The heifer trade was brisk on the night with heifers from 300kg to 400kg selling from €2.30/kg to €2.45/kg. Demand stemmed mainly from farmers, with quality lots the preferred choice. Better quality types in the same weight range sold from €2.70/kg to over €3.00/kg.

Lighter heifers from 200kg to 300kg sold from €2.60/kg to €2.70/kg, with top-quality types making from €2.90/kg to €3.10/kg. Commission rates are €9 to the buyer and 1.9% to the seller.

Nathan Tuffy