Camera at the Mart: weanlings average €3/kg over 2024 prices in Iveragh

The trade for spring-born weanlings in Iveragh Co-operative Mart on Tuesday last ran close to the level of the south Kerry mart’s autumn-born sale held earlier in the summer.

With 345 on offer, numbers practically mirrored the corresponding sale in 2024. The split between bulls and heifers remained the same too, but prices were a different league altogether.

Twelve months ago, the main run of top-quality bulls in Cahersiveen were selling for between €3.40/kg and €3.60kg. This week, the bottom third of bulls weighing from 300kg to 400kg were nearly €2/kg ahead.

They sold for an average of €5.29/kg, while the top third of bull weanlings in that weight range were €3/kg ahead of 2024. They sold for an average of €6.42/kg.

Demand was strong throughout the sale for heifers as well as bulls. Heifers weighing from 300kg to 400kg were generally making €1,500 to €2,100.

Dominated

As ever, Charolais- and Limousin-crosses dominated the pens and the fact that all but three of the 345 animals on offer were suckler-bred stock tells enough about the farming practices in the area.

It's been some year in the weanling trade across the country, but, as manager Mike Kissane, said: "It’s great to see the difference in prices compared to other years. Depending on weights, it’s up between €600 [and] €1,000/head.

"Despite the bumper year, it’s probably three years too late for some farmers that exited suckling, but it might help stem the tide of farmers who are thinking of getting out of sucklers.

"We had exporters and farmer buyers online and at the ringside and the trade was very positive overall.”

Mike has been a long-term advocate of proper weaning and management of weanlings prior to sale and the recent boycott of sales by exporters was a wake-up call to farmers.

'Real effort'

“I feel it’s very important that farmers make a real effort to wean, worm dose and vaccinate the calves prior to sale. That’s important from an animal welfare point of view, as it reduces stress, as it’s not on to whip a calf from under a cow on the day of sale.

"No buyer can afford to lose a calf at the current price and by doing those simple management measures, farmers can reduce that risk and help keep their customers.

"If the sellers want repeat customers, it’s important to look after the buyers also. It’s also a huge boost that animals are allowed travel through France to get to their destinations in Spain and Italy."