Camera at the Mart: shippers drive weanling sale in Gortatlea

A full clearance of the 495 cattle on offer at the weanling show and sale in Gortatlea Mart on Wednesday evening last shows the demand that remains out there for stock.

Selling everything is one thing, but the sale highlighted the importance of the live export outlet, as 115 of the weanlings on offer sold for over €2,000.

Top price of €3,060 was paid for a July 2025-born Belgian Blue-cross bull weighing 485kg (€6.31/kg).

There was exceptionally strong demand from exporters, with four at the ringside on the lookout to fill orders. They were mainly on the lookout for bulls from 300kg to 400kg.

Concerns

While there are concerns at falling factory prices, the money those weanlings ran into shows that there are customers who are on the lookout for stock and willing to pay well for it.

Commenting on the trade, manager Maurice Brosnan said: “Things flew it. Two of those shippers were really pushing on to fill orders and the good E grade bull was making €6.50/kg to €7/kg and even upwards in a few cases.

"It’s great to have the live shipping, especially in tough times with a beef price back from where it was. You can see how important it is to Irish beef farmers to have another outlet for their stock. I still see a great future for weanlings.

"There were a few farmers from around the country and one from the North buying heavier bulls too.

"So those good, heavy calves over 450kg, they were making from €4.50/kg to €5/kg.

"Some would have killed cattle recently and even with falling prices, they’re happier to stay with bulls instead of bullocks, as they have a better conversion rate and were still leaving money.

"In general, cows are steady, forward cattle back maybe 20c/kg, but it looks like numbers are starting to tighten and that should help things.”

TB issues

Brosnan added that the new TB rules for cows are still creating an issue.

“I’m very disappointed with them. It’s ludicrous and it’s limiting the amount of options a farmer has when it comes to selling.

"If you bought a store cow and she was category two [for TB], you have only one place to go. Every farmer should be allowed sell where they want, even if they had to do a 30-day test before they sell, then so be it.”