In last week’s weanling sale at Roscrea Mart, just over 350 cattle went under the hammer and met a clearance rate of 90%.

Bull weanlings made up the bulk of the sale, with 112 bulls weighing between 300kg and 400kg selling to an average of €5.14/kg.

The top third of bulls in this weight band sold to an average of €5.61/kg, while the bottom third averaged an impressive €4.54/kg.

Quality continental bulls were still in demand, with both farmers and exporters buying.

Bull weanlings weighing between 200kg and 300kg saw brisk demand for the top third of bulls averaging €5.87/kg, while the bottom third of these bulls averaged €3.97/kg, largely influenced by dairy-cross bull weanlings.

A small number of bulls weighing over 400kg averaged €4/kg, while Martbids analysis shows the top third of these bulls averaged €5/kg.

A smaller show of heifer weanlings on the night saw 300kg to 400kg animals average €4.70/kg, while those weighing between 200kg and 300kg averaged €4.65/kg, with the top third of these weight categories both averaging €5.25/kg. Heifers weighing over 400kg sold from €3.83/kg up to €4.60/kg.