Mart managers in the southwest are reporting a strong start in the trade for dairy-beef weanlings.

Castleisland Mart manager, Neilus McAuliffe reported that bucket-fed bull calves made between €4/kg and €5/kg on Monday last, with Angus- and Hereford-cross heifers comfortably making over €4/kg in the Co Kerry mart.

“I thought there was a good lift in them this week, there was a good few farmers out there buying them. We had the usual buyers from across the country and we had few local farmers putting extra pressure on them and that’s the way it will be as I’ve had a lot of enquires for those calves. Especially from farmers that didn’t buy calves in spring and they’re looking to buy now.”

There were similar prices in Corrin Mart on Thursday last with some bull weanlings pushing beyond €5/kg. Friesian weanlings were selling from €3/kg up with some making close to €4/kg.

Manager Seán Leahy noted there were farmers who had sold forward stores recently and were looking to restock. That, combined with recovery from drought, has seen good demand.

Commenting on the trade, Leahy said: “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.”