Weanlings sales are ramping up right throughout the country, and it is very much a sellers world at the minute.

Weanlings have had a kind spring and summer weather wise, and the high prices combined with ok feed prices have meant that the majority of weanlings presented at sales are in as good of condition as ever.

The early sales tend to see some top end cattle being turned out for special sales, and this past week has seen some heifer show and sales entice top end heifers in to the ring, which is evident in the prices seen in the table below.

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Weanling heifers in the 200-300kg bracket are trading on average for €5.28/kg, up 12c/kg on the week prior, but it is heifers in the top third that are really commanding the notable prices and are just shy of €1/kg ahead of their average counterparts at €6.26/kg.

The majority of heifers are clocking in to the 300-400kg bracket, with the top third in this averaging €6.10/kg, or €2,135 per head.

This bracket of heifers has seen a lift in price between 19-27c/kg, and while this is partly due to these special sales, farmers buyers are reportedly now more active around the ring in an effort to secure numbers early on, in fear that stock numbers will not be there later on in the buying season.

Bulls continue a strong trade, with all weights of quality bulls broaching over €6/kg.

While it may seem there is a slump in prices going by red arrows, again special sales are affecting average prices, with many show and sales the week prior having temporarily risen prices.

Farmers producing top-quality cattle are being rewarded for their efforts with the top third of weanling bulls weighing 350kg selling for €2,212 per head, equating to an increase of almost €900 per head.

Average-quality weanlings are trading in the region of €5.50/kg or over €1,900 per head. The majority of these high-end weanlings continue to be purchased by exporters who are keen to source stock to fill purchasing orders, though beef finishers are also now vying for quality cattle.

Steers and heifers

Factory agents and feed lot buyers continue to battle hard to secure numbers. As it stands, numbers are still relatively tight, with a combination of increased exports in the back end of 2024 and early 2025 seeing less cattle on farms, while the good weather is preventing a flush of cattle hitting marts that is usulaly witnessed when ground conditions and grass supplies deplete.

While prices haven’t majorly increased, they have held solid. Feedback from factories is that European beef price is dictating the trade, and while there is no expectation of an increase in factory quotes, there is no expectation that they will slip either in the short to medium term, which is helping give buyers more confidence when purchasing lighter and forward stores.

Average quality cattle in both steers and heifers continue to trade 15c/kg either side of €4.50/kg, with the higher prices leaning more towards lighter stock.

As it stands, with heifer quotes at €7.70/kg, an average quality 550kg heifer selling for €2,447.50 in the live ring would have to kill out to a 317kg carcass weight to achieve a similar price in the factory (ignoring charges associated with both the factory and mart) which equates to 57% of a kill out percentage. This is near impossible for average quality lots.

For this reason, the majority of smaller finishers continue to present cattle in the live ring.