Live exporters drove the trade at Tuesday’s show and sale of weanlings in Ennis Mart, purchasing approximately 49% of the entry of over 330 bulls.

Exporters were most active for bulls weighing from 300kg to 400kg, with lower appetite for heavier bulls, with the exception of excellent-quality U and E grading types.

Bulls weighing 300kg to 400kg accounted for over 50% of bulls on offer.

Prices averaged €5.17/kg, with the top third of bulls selling for an average of €5.72/kg and topping out at €2,820 or €7.42/kg for a 380kg Belgian Blue bull. The bottom third sold for €4.53/kg.

Clare Mart manager Martin McNamara commented that prices were helped by the quality of cattle on offer and added that there was “some serious quality Belgian Blue and Limousin bulls, along with some top Charolais bulls”.

Bulls weighing 200kg to 300kg averaged €5.45/kg, with a wide differential in price ranging from €5.45/kg to €6.22/kg. Farmers competed with exporters for lighter good-quality bulls.

The trade for heavier bulls was less influenced by live exporters and, as such, was more closely aligned to beef prices with a more subdued demand.

This was especially the case for older bulls born in the first half of 2025, with fewer customers active for heavier bulls not suitable for finishing at less than 16 months of age.

The average price for such bulls weighing 450kg-plus was €4.50/kg, according to MartBids analysis, with the top third of bulls selling for €5.10/kg and the bottom third at €3.87/kg.

Heifer trade

There was some phenomenal prices achieved in the heifer ring for show heifers.

Two standout prices included a Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighing 405kg selling for €7,110, while a 420kg Limousin heifer sold for €6,000. Numbers of heifers on offer were considerably lower, which is the trend in all weanling sales.

An entry of 64 heifers weighing from 300kg to 400kg sold on average for €4.90/kg, with the top third selling on average for €5.59/kg and the bottom third at €4.30/kg.

A smaller entry of about 30 lighter heifers weighing from 200kg to 300kg sold on average for €4.68/kg and ranged from €3.81/kg for the bottom third of lots to €5.36/kg for the top third.

In the suckler ring, there was a small entry, with in-calf lots hitting €3,730 and pairs topping out at €3,950 for a pedigree-registered Shorthorn cow and strong purebred non-registered bull calf at foot.

This super-quality Charolais-cross bull weighing 575kg and born 30/09/25 sold for €3,000 (€5.22/kg).

This E grading Belgian Blue-cross bull weighing 380kg and born 25/02/26 sold for €2,820 (€7.42/kg).

This second-prizewinning Belgian Blue-cross bull weighing 495kg and born 15/01/26 sold for €2,740 (€5.54/kg).

Weighing 360kg, this super-quality Belgian Blue-cross bull born 09/01/26 sold for €2,520 (€7/kg).

This Charolais-cross bull weighing 410kg and born 02/01/26 sold for €2,380 (€5.80/kg).

This Limousin-cross bull weighing 515kg and born 20/10/25 sold for €2,200 (€4.27/kg).

Weighing 340kg, this top Charolais-cross bull born 01/03/26 sold for €2,160 (€6.35/kg).

This pair of Limousin-cross bulls weighing 422.5kg on average and born 26/07/2025 sold for €2,100 (€4.97/kg).

Heifers

The standout heifer was this first-prizewinning Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighing 405kg and born 10/01/26, which sold for €7,110 (€17.56/kg).

Sired by Joskins, this Limousin-cross heifer which was the first-prizewinning heifer in the Limousin section, weighed 420kg, was born 15/01/26 and sold for €6,000 (€14.29/kg).

This quality Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighing 400kg and born 23/09/25 sold for €2,600 (€6.50/kg).