There appeared to be a bit of a bounce in the trade for bucket-fed weanlings at Corrin Mart on Thursday last, with a full clearance of the 310 animals on offer.

Beef-crosses made up the bulk of the numbers and whether they were sired by traditional beef breed or continental bulls, they proved good sellers with solid demand throughout.

Those weighing from 150kg to 220kg were making anywhere from €4.30/kg to €5.48/kg, while those over 250kg tended to make between €3.90/kg and €4.20/kg.

Heifers were thinner on the ground, with Angus-crosses making up the majority of them. While not hitting the prices of the bulls, they were still respectable, with a good share making from €4.40/kg to €4.60/kg.

Friesian weanlings were selling from €3/kg up with some making close to €4/kg.

Afterwards, mart manager Sean Leahy said: "It’s our first one standalone one of the autumn weanling sales and we had a lot of people bidding, but on evidence of this sale, you can bring out those bucket-fed weanlings with confidence.

"Prices are not where they were this time last year, but they’re getting up close to it.

"Weights are slightly back on where they were too, but they will come up as the time goes on. The drought had an impact on that.

"We're starting to see farmers who have sold stores coming back out looking to restock and that improved store price is making its way back to weanlings.”