After a very strong start to the 2020 weanling trade in August, prices have dipped but are still ahead of the 2019 trade.

Analysis of the Irish Farmers Journal MartBids database shows that male weanlings sold during August, September and October in the 300-400kg bracket were €0.14/kg ahead of 2019 prices or €49/head higher for a 350kg calf. This dropped back to a €0.05/kg difference or €17/head during October.

Heifers are running €0.17/kg ahead of 2019 prices or €59/head. For October this had narrowed to a €0.10/kg difference or €35/head difference for a 350kg heifer. Cattle throughput has held up well for the last few weeks.

We’ve seen our numbers hold well over the last few weeks despite all the disruptions

From 19 October to 31 October, 88,000 cattle were traded through Irish marts, 94% of what was traded during the same period in 2019.

Commenting on the weanling trade, Clare Marts manager Martin McNamara said: “We’ve seen our numbers hold well over the last few weeks despite all the disruptions. Prices are up in Clare Marts for both bulls and heifers although we did see a bit of a drop off in the last month for that lower-quality calf, with exporters less active around rings as they were waiting to get boats away.

We’ve had a great run of autumn sales with a steady trade to Northern Ireland all the time

“What we are finding at the moment is some confusion around the BEAM scheme and farmers are apprehensive about buying too many stock. To be honest, a lot of them don’t know where they stand and they need to get guidance on it before it affects the trade too much”.

Weanling prices are also up in the northwest. Elphin Mart manager Gerry Connellan told the Irish Farmers Journal: “We’ve had a great run of autumn sales with a steady trade to Northern Ireland all the time.

“Confidence is up with suckler farmers. You can see that in our replacement heifer sales. It’s been a few years since we have seen prices as high. There is serious demand out there for the right type of stock and farmers are willing to pay big money for the good ones.”