This week 12 months ago, the weanling sale in Iveragh Co-op Mart, Cahersiveen, Co Kerry, was described in these pages as a sale for the ages.

Top price then was €1,940 and the likes of that trade was never seen before in south Kerry.

Finding superlatives for this year’s sale might be more challenging. Average prices of €5.35/kg to €5.54/kg for the top third of bulls across all weights tells its own story.

A total of 63% of the bulls on offer sold for a price higher than last year’s highest price and 22% sold for over €2,500.

Martbids data showed the trade for bulls there this week was running at €2/kg higher than 2024.

As ever, Charolais- and Limousin-crosses dominated the numbers in south Kerry and heavier bulls over 400kg were strongly competed for.

Lighter bulls weighing closer to 300kg tended to make up most of the bulls that sold for under €1,800. Some plainer R grading bulls could be bought for under that figure too.

Despite the record-breaking prices, numbers were over 100 head back on 2024.

Having said that, there were a far greater number of weanlings offered at the spring show and sale in March, as farmers were tempted to capitalise on a rising trade at the time.

Speaking after the sale, mart manager Mike Kissane said: “Overall, the quality of the stock was exceptional, even though numbers were slightly lower than last year.

“Trade was driven by exporters and feedlots with four exporters active.

“It’s great to see the positivity and the prices being paid at the moment. Unfortunately, it’s a couple of years too late for some. For those who remain, hopefully they might stay with it, because at long last they’re being rewarded.

“In south Kerry and the Iveragh Peninsula, it’s much the same as all up the west coast - there are [fewer] weanlings about, so the price rise is three or four years too late.

“The exodus from sucklers started when the new CAP came in and the old suckler scheme finished.

“We’ve suckler farmers around here who have sold their cows and gone for dry stock and organics and they’re just not producing the weanlings now and the biggest factor is age related.

“I think there needs to be a change in attitude from Government to help the people that are left producing livestock because they are the backbone of rural Ireland especially here where we don’t have the dairy or tillage option.”