Suckler weanlings continue to increase in price on the back of huge exporter demand and increased farmer buyer activity in recent weeks.
Taking a look back at this time last year top-quality bull weanling in the 300-400kg weight category was coming in at €3.72/kg for the first week of August.
That same weanling came in at €6.25/kg this week.
That’s a difference of €2.53/kg, or €886/head, and higher for a 350kg weanling.
Weanling exports are currently running 25% ahead of the same period in 2024 with almost 30,000 weanlings exported up until the end of July 2025.
Cattle exports to Italy are up 16% in 2025 with the Spanish market up 25% on the same period in 2024.
Marts sales have been small in general over the last few weeks but Elphin Mart in Co Roscommon had a big entry of 350 weanlings last Monday night for a special weanling sale.
Some very big money was paid for the top weanlings in the yard, including a 610kg bull bought for €5,900 (€9.67/kg). The new normal is €6/kg with exceptional lots hitting over €7/kg during the sale.
Elphin Mart manager Ciaran Lynch said: “We had some buyers standing out of the market in the last few months on the back of thinking that prices were too high, but it’s actually dearer cattle have gotten. Finishers are starting to kill cattle off grass and they have to replace them with something and they’re just biting the bullet and standing in to buy now.”
Suckler weanlings continue to increase in price on the back of huge exporter demand and increased farmer buyer activity in recent weeks.
Taking a look back at this time last year top-quality bull weanling in the 300-400kg weight category was coming in at €3.72/kg for the first week of August.
That same weanling came in at €6.25/kg this week.
That’s a difference of €2.53/kg, or €886/head, and higher for a 350kg weanling.
Weanling exports are currently running 25% ahead of the same period in 2024 with almost 30,000 weanlings exported up until the end of July 2025.
Cattle exports to Italy are up 16% in 2025 with the Spanish market up 25% on the same period in 2024.
Marts sales have been small in general over the last few weeks but Elphin Mart in Co Roscommon had a big entry of 350 weanlings last Monday night for a special weanling sale.
Some very big money was paid for the top weanlings in the yard, including a 610kg bull bought for €5,900 (€9.67/kg). The new normal is €6/kg with exceptional lots hitting over €7/kg during the sale.
Elphin Mart manager Ciaran Lynch said: “We had some buyers standing out of the market in the last few months on the back of thinking that prices were too high, but it’s actually dearer cattle have gotten. Finishers are starting to kill cattle off grass and they have to replace them with something and they’re just biting the bullet and standing in to buy now.”
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