Monday evening’s sale at Portumna Mart saw a special weanling sale take place. Mart manager John O’Sullivan said that the trade was very good for good-quality calves, but plain types are being met with weak demand. He said that export demand was very strong, with a high proportion of the bulls being sold to export buyers.

Bulls from 300kg to 400kg were the most sought after, especially good-quality continental types. These sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg and up to €2.60/kg at the top of the market.

Light bulls under 300kg were a strong trade also where the quality on offer was good. Again, farmers and exporters were the main source of demand for these.

The heifer trade was quite good. There is little to no export activity for weanling heifers, so all the demand is farmer-led. Good-quality continental weanlings from 300kg to 320kg were selling from €800 to €850/head. However, like bulls, John said that plainer types were harder sold: “Once the colour or breed is wrong or if they are not as good of quality, then the prices of similar weanling heifers are running from €600 to €650/head.”

Commission rates are €10 to the buyer and €9 to €16 to the seller.