The weanling trade continues to hit new highs and Friday’s special sale of bull weanlings in Ballymote was no exception, with some serious money being paid by farmers and exporters for the top lots in the sale.
There was over 300 weanlings through the ring, with farmers and live exporters battling it out for all types of weanlings.
Over 10% of the weanlings in the sale crossed the €3,000/head mark, with €8/kg hit on multiple occasions.
Exporters were as fit as ever, but they didnt have it all their own way, with a few big feeders pushing top-quality lots into very big money.
The best money was for 300kg to 400kg bull weanlings, with a lot of customers in Ballymote for the lighter calf.
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, mart manager David Faughnan said: “It just seems to be cranking up more every week.
"There is serious demand out there for the top-quality calves and with good weanlings in short supply, I can’t see the trade coming back much to be honest.
"We had a few men take home over €8/kg this week for their weanlings. It’s great to see, it was long enough the other way where suckler farmers weren’t getting rewarded for their stock.
"I’m just wondering where next year’s good-quality store bullocks are going to come out of at the rate the good weanlings are leaving the country at.”
This January 2025-born Charolais bull weanling weighed 530kg and sold for €3,400 (€6.42/kg).
This November 2024-born Limousin bull weanling weighed 535kg and sold for €3,380 (€6.32/kg).
This November 2024-born Belgian Blue bull weanling weighed 450kg and sold for €3,340 (€7.42/kg).
This November 2024-born Charolais bull weanling weighed 555kg and sold for €3,340 (€6.02/kg).
This January 2025-born Charolais bull weanling weighed 500kg and sold for €3,320 (€6.64/kg).
This December 2024-born Charolais bull weanling weighed 500kg and sold for €3,300 (€6.60/kg).
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