Kanturk Mart saw 99% clearance of the 398 weanlings on offer at the spring-born weanling show and sale.

Strong demand from farmers and exporters kept a good floor on the market with a bit more competition for the lighter bull weanling.

Light weanlings in the 250kg to 330kg range were selling for similar prices to recent years with most selling for between €2.35/kg and €2.75/kg with quality a big price determinant.

A few exceptional lots sold for up to €2.90/kg. Traditional beef crosses sold from €1.75/kg up to €2.15/kg, with crosses from the dairy herd at the lower end of that scale.

This group of March 2019-born bulls had an average weight of 310kg and sold for €845 or €2.73/kg.

Heavier bulls

The fact that there is little demand for young bulls in factories is having an effect on the prices paid for heavier young bulls, with those over 400kg a slightly tougher trade but still not too far behind other years.

Quality dictated price with bulls with the potential to grade R or U- selling from a high of €2.15/kg back to €1.85/kg for the heavier plainer bull.

This 395kg February 2019-born bull sold for €840 or €2.13/kg.

Sample bull prices

  • One Charolais, April 2019, 300kg – €725 (€2.42/kg).
  • Five Charolais, March 2019 285kg – €740 (€2.60/kg).
  • Three Limousin, March 2019, 310kg – €845 (€2.73/kg).
  • Two Charolais, February 2019, 300kg – €785 (€2.62/kg).
  • One Belgian blue, April 2019, 345kg – €1,000 (€2.90/kg).
  • Two Angus, November 2018, 275kg – €600 (€2.18/kg).
  • One Charolais, February 2019, 405kg – €840 (€2.07/kg).
  • One Hereford, February 2019, 320kg – €650 (€2.03/kg).

    • Heifers

    There was a tighter price range for heifers with €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg covering a lot of what was on offer, but there was more available for quality continental lots which sold from €2.20/kg up to €2.60/kg.

    A May 2019-born heifer, weighing 230kg sold for €590 or €2.57/kg.

    Sample heifer prices

  • One Limousin, May 2019, 230kg – €590 (€2.57/kg).
  • Five Charolais, March 2019, 280kg – €670 (€2.39/kg).
  • One Limousin, January 2019, 360kg – €800 (€2.22/kg).
  • One Charolais, January 2019, 385kg – €805 (€2.09/kg).

    • Show and sale

    Both the champion and reserve champion of the show and sale sponsored by Southern Milling were bred by Brendan O'Callghan, Newberry, Mallow. Both were Belgian Blue crosses.

    This 345kg April 2019-born bull was the weanling show and sale champion and sold for €1,000 or €2.90/kg.

    An April 2019-born bull, weighing 355kg sold for €850 or €2.39/kg.