Last week’s special weanling sale at Mountrath Mart saw a good entry of 362 cattle on offer, with about 330 of these being weanlings.

Mart managers Glen Cooper and JJ Peters said that the trade was very brisk for all good bulls and heifers, with exporters active also.

There was a good number of bulls over 550kg on offer and these sold mainly from €1,100 to €1,570, depending on quality, weight and age.

Those from 450kg to 550kg sold mainly from €1,000 to €1,150, with plainer bulls making from €900 to €1,000.

Specialist feeders were the main demand for these, but some exporters snapped up choice lots also. The main run of bulls was from 350kg to 450kg.

Farmer demand was quite strong for these and prices of average-quality lots ranged mainly from €1,000 to €1,200 for heavier types, while average-quality lighter bulls sold from €800 to €900, with some export-quality Belgian Blue bulls making over €1,000.

Bulls under 300kg were only available in small numbers, with prices ranging mainly from €700 to €840.

Those from 300kg to 350kg saw prices range from €800 to €950, with the most on offer all good-quality well-conformed types.

The weanling heifer trade was a little more mixed, but Glenn said that the overall quality of both heifers and bulls was quite good and this is drawing buyers to the weekly sale.

Heifers from 450kg to 500kg sold mainly from €1,000 to €1,200, with some back to €900 where plainer heifers were on offer. The main supply of heifers was from 350kg to 450kg, with large numbers of good-quality Limousin and Charolais types on offer, although plainer heifers were harder sold.

Those from 350kg to 400kg sold mainly from €800 to €900/head, with some fancy heifers making over €1,200.

Those from 400kg to 450kg saw prices range mainly from €950 to €1,100, with top-quality types making over €1,250.

Cows with calves at foot sold from €1,540 to €1,580 for top-quality types.

The bullock trade saw a good entry of those over 500kg sell from €1,075 to €1,490.

Commission rates are 1.6% to the seller and €10 to the buyer.