Tuesday’s special weanling sale at Ennis Mart saw a stronger than expected trade for all types bar heavy bulls. Mart manager Martin McNamara said that the sale was quite strong, with farmer and exporters both active for stock.

This Limousin-cross heifer, born November 2019 and weighing 430kg sold for €1,140 (€2.65/kg).

He added that prices were back by about 2% or €17/head. Martin said that bulls were 5kg heavier on average compared with last year, but the heifers sold were 29kg heavier.

This Limousin-cross heifer, born February 2019 and weighing 280kg sold for €720 (€2.57/kg).

The heavier bulls were the most difficult trade and struggled to pass €1,100/head, with most bulls over 450kg selling from €1,020 to €1,080/head.

This Charolais-cross heifer, born November 2018 and weighing 435kg sold for €1,060 (€2.44/kg).

Bulls from 400kg to 450kg sold for €945/head on average or €2.22/kg. Martin said that export demand kept a firm floor under the trade for bulls, with exporters buying about 40% of the weanling bulls and runners on offer.

This Limousin-cross heifer, born November 2018 and weighing 290kg sold for €655 (€2.26/kg).

Strong farmer and exporter demand meant that weanlings from 350kg to 400kg were a strong trade and sold for just under €890/head. There were some plainer types on offer, which sold from €820 to €830/head also.

This Charolais-cross heifer, born November 2018 and weighing 410kg sold for €920 (€2.24/kg).

Bulls from 300kg to 350kg sold for €840/head on average, with some fancy bulls making over €900/head. However, there were some plainer bulls which made from €605/head upwards.

This Limousin-cross bull, born November 2018 and weighing 400kg sold for €1,000 (€2.50/kg).

Light bulls under 300kg were a strong trade also where the quality on offer was good. Prices ranged mainly from €650/head to €845/head, with the majority making from €750 to €800/head.

This Limousin-cross bull, born January 2019 and weighing 420kg sold for € 1,060 (€2.52/kg).

The heifer trade was strong also. Martin said that the best demand was for heifers from 310kg to 370kg that were not over-fed.

Heavier heifers that were showing a little fat were not met with as much demand.

This Charolais-cross bull, born November 2018 and weighing 455kg sold for €1,100 (€2.42/kg).

Heifers over 400kg sold mainly from €900 to €1,000, with some selling to €1,170 or €2.69/kg. The majority of those on offer were from 300kg to 400kg and these sold for about €800/head on average.

This Charolais-cross bull, born February 2019 and weighing 310kg sold for €935 (€3.00/kg).

Plainer types of heifers sold from €600 to €750, while the majority of better-quality types made from €840 to €870/head.

Martin added that demand for runners was extremely strong, with export demand boosting the trade.

This Limouisn-cross bull, born March 2019 and weighing 320kg sold for €900 (€2.81/kg).

They sold from €450/head to €910/head for light Limousin bulls weighing around 260kg. Commission rates are 1.4% to the seller to a maximum of €13 for singles and 1.2% to a maximum of €11 for doubles, and €9 to the buyer.

This Charolais-cross bull, born March 2019 and weighing 320kg sold for €825 (€2.58/kg).