The older fattening cattle numbers are starting to fizzle out, with autumn weanling sales now starting to gain momentum.

Clare Marts hosted its autumn-born weanling sale in Ennis on Tuesday, with a surge of numbers on the week. The sale attracted higher numbers with a solid trade throughout.

This 350kg Charolais-cross bull born in December sold for €980 (€2.80/kg). \ David Ruffles

Nearly double the number of male weanlings went through the ring, with an average of €2.50/kg easily achieved across the weight divisions.

While small numbers of 200kg to 300kg male weanlings went through, these were met with the strongest trade, with the average price settling at €2.71/kg. The biggest entry of bulls was for weanlings between 300kg and 400kg with over 100 entered.

This 315kg Charolais bull born in November sold for €810 (€2.57/kg). \ David Ruffles

These lots sold to an average price of €2.51/kg. Charolais and Limousin were again the breeds of choice in this category, with many lots making between €2.70 and €3/kg, which boosted them past the €1,000/head mark. One of the top lots was a Limousin-cross bull weighing 340kg which sold for €3.09/kg (€1,050).

This 310kg Limousin-cross bull born in August sold for €750 (€2.42/kg). \ David Ruffles

Weanling bulls of higher weights were back slightly on the week, but the good continental type was still very much in demand, achieving prices in excess of €2.60/kg. One 415kg Blue bull sold for €2.96/kg (€1,230).

This seven-year-old Belgian Blue cow with March-born Limousin bull calf at foot sold for €1,580. \ David Ruffles

While the heifers had a smaller entry than the bulls, prices were up significantly on the week. The main portion of heifers hit €2.50/kg, with a premium paid for quality. The top third of lots between 300kg and 400kg sold for an impressive €2.81/kg, up 11c on the week. Leading price here was a Limousin-cross heifer weighing 335kg which sold for €1,050 (€3.13/kg).

Three Limousin heifers born March 2019 and with an average weight of 408kg sold for €950 (€2.33/kg). \ David Ruffles

There was a particularly strong trade for lighter continental types, with the top third of lots between 200kg and 300kg selling for nearly €3/kg on average.

Suckler cow prices remain very strong, with an average price of €1,600 achieved for better-quality lots. The right breed of cow with the right type of calf saw prices jump to just shy of €1,900.