Carnew Mart in Co Wicklow held a special sale for weanling bulls as part of its weekly cattle last Saturday.

Manager David Quinn reported that the number of good-quality suckler-bred weanlings available in the area has been hit by a significant ongoing trend of conversions from suckler and beef to dairying.

This Belgian Blue cross bull weighing 398kg and born 06/09/2019 sold for €1,000 (€2.51/kg).
This 414kg Limousin cross bull born 05/11/2019 sold for €1,060 (€2.65/kg).

The reduced numbers on offer is also creating more competition between specialist finishers and live exporters and David says this was apparent on Saturday.

The top third of bulls weighing 200kg to 300kg averaged €2.61/kg, with a selection of U+ grading bulls selling to €3.00/kg, while plainer-quality lots sold from €2.15/kg to €2.30/kg.

Heavier U grading bulls weighing 400kg to 450kg sold from €2.40/kg to €2.60/kg, with R grades from €2.20/kg to €2.35/kg.

This Limousin cross bull weighing 342kg and born 31/01/2020 sold for €910 (€2.66/kg).

Small numbers weighing in excess of 450kg averaged €2.16/kg and sold to a top of €2.40/kg to €2.50/kg. There was also a small entry of Friesian bulls, which met live export demand and sold from €1.40/kg to €1.60/kg on average.

There was an entry of over 800 head on offer on Saturday and the trade for bullocks and heifers was reported as solid.

This Limousin cross bull weighing 574kg and born 11/10/2019 sold for €1,230 (€2.14/kg).

The wide variation in quality of animals is leading to an equally wide variation in prices paid. Friesian bullocks weighing 400kg to 500kg sold from €1.44/kg to €1.63/kg, while dairy crossbreds, such as Simmental, Hereford and Angus crosses showing the effects of weather, ranged from €1.70/kg to €1.90/kg, with top-quality Angus types capable of hitting and exceeding €2/kg.

These Hereford cross bullocks weighing 471kg and born 14/02/19 and 25/02/19 sold for €890 (€1.89/kg).

Nice-quality continental stores are in demand, with prices ranging from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg and hitting as high as €2.45/kg to €2.50/kg. Bullocks weighing 500kg to 600kg followed a similar trend, as did heifers. Demand for short-keep and slaughter-fit cattle is firm. Bullocks weighing in excess of 600kg sold from €1.85/kg to €2/kg for traditional-bred animals and to €2.15/kg for continental-bred stock.

This 526kg Charolais cross bullock born 06/04/2019 sold for €1,190 (€2.26/kg).

There was an entry of about 190 cows and 30 stock bulls on Friday. Prices were largely unchanged, with a strong online trade remaining with about 30% traded on this platform. Friesian cows are selling from €0.85/kg to €1.05/kg for plain types, while better-quality cows are selling from €1.15/kg to €1.40/kg. Continental cows are selling from €1.50/kg to a top of €1.85/kg to €1.95/kg.

This Limousin bullock weighing 426kg and born 04/05/19 sold for €1,010 (€2.37/kg).

This Charolais cross bullock weighing 486kg and born 14/02/19 sold for €1,150 (€2.36/kg).