New Ross mart held a special sale of autumn-born weanlings on Monday evening. The sale was organised to provide an outlet for farmers operating the more niche production system and attracted an entry of more than 100 bulls and 50 heifers.
Demand was relatively firm but with the trade running 20c/kg to 30c/kg behind 2015 levels, some sellers were more reluctant to trade.
Bulls weighing 420kg to 500kg sold from €2.00/kg for R grade types, with U grades selling to a top of €2.20/kg. Live exporters were less active than previous years and, according to manager Richard Kirwan, removed a source of competition with exporters concentrating in the main on U+ and E grade bulls. Bulls weighing 340kg to 400kg sold in general from €2.00/kg to €2.50/kg. Plainer bulls and those with age not on their side were at the lower end of the price range while U grade bulls attracted farmer and specialist bull-feeder interest.
Heifers sold in a similar trend. Top-quality continental lots sold from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg, with some exceptional quality lots attracting live export interest selling to €2.70/kg. Plainer type heifers or butcher-type lots with less potential to feed into heavier weights sold back to €2.00/kg. The next weanling sale takes place in New Ross on 22 August.
Read this week's Camera at the Mart here
Read this week's mart report from Ballymena here
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