Last Friday’s sale was the special show and sale of weanlings at Loughrea Mart. Mart manager Jimmy Cooney said that demand from farmer buyers was very strong, with grass buyer activity much higher earlier this year.

This Limousin-cross heifer, born March 2018 and weighing 380kg, sold for €980 (€2.58/kg).

While farmer demand was the strongest on the day, he added that feedlot buyers were sourcing heavy feeding bulls, while there was improved exporter demand evident also, which he said was a welcome change.

This Limousin-cross heifer, born March 2018 and weighing 380kg, sold for €925 (€2.43/kg).

The quality of stock on offer was exceptionally high. Jimmy said that as the mart is in an area of the country where suckler cows are most common, with only very few dairy farmers in the area, this meant that almost all the stock on offer are suckler-bred, with only very few dairy-cross animals passing through the mart.

This Limousin-cross heifer, born February 2018 and weighing 360kg, sold for €830 (€2.31/kg).

Jimmy said that light bull weanlings were met with strong demand, with several good-quality bulls over 265kg selling from €770 to €830/head.

Farmer buyers were the main source of demand for these, but there were some exporters sourcing these types also.

This Limousin-cross heifer, born May 2018 and weighing 410kg, sold for €1,100 (€2.68/kg).

Heavier bulls from 300kg to 400kg were a strong trade, with farmer buyers very active. Prices ranged mainly from €850 to €1,035 at the top of the market.

There were some bulls that made slightly more than this, but Jimmy said it was very evident that demand for beef bulls was well back on last year.

This Limousin-cross bullock, born May 2018 and weighing 480kg, sold for €1,150 (€2.40/kg).

Heavier bulls did not fetch as high of prices on a price-per-kilo basis, due to the beef trade.

Buyers of these heavier bulls were mainly feeders and prices of those from 450kg to 550kg ranged mainly from €1,000 to €1,150/head.

This Charolais bullock, born June 2018 and weighing 490kg, sold for €1,100 (€2.25/kg).

Light heifers were in demand also. Those under 300kg sold mainly from €750 to €820 for top-quality types.

Heifers from 300kg to 400kg were met by strong farmer demand and prices ranged mainly from €950 to €1,200 for better-quality types.

This Limousin bullock, born March 2018 and weighing 385kg, sold for €1,000 (€2.60/kg).

The higher end of prices was for well-muscled Belgian Blue heifers.

Heavier heifers over 400kg were also a strong trade, with well-shaped heifers achieving the higher end of prices. These heifers sold mainly from €935 to €1,390.

This Limousin-cross bullock, born March 2018 and weighing 533kg, sold for €1,080 (€2.03/kg).

The highest price was for a 430kg Charolais heifer which sold for €1,390 or €3.23/kg.

Commission rates are €9 to the buyer and €1.5% to the seller.

This Charolais-cross bullock, born March 2018 and weighing 490kg, sold for €1,050 (€2.14/kg).

This Simmental-cross bullock, born March 2018 and weighing 485kg, sold for €1,100 (€2.27/kg).

This Limousin-cross bullock, born March 2018 and weighing 440kg, sold for €1,100 (€2.50/kg).