Friday 12 February saw a good entry of weanlings for sale in Donegal Livestock Mart, with 140 cattle entered in total. The sale achieved a 100% clearance rate, with weanling heifers a particularly strong trade.

Speaking to mart manager Eimear McGuinness, she said cattle seem to be coming out earlier this year, with the strong trade currently being seen in the live ring the main reason behind this.

She said that trade was once again very positive on the day, with real heat in the weanling heifer trade.

Charolais and Limousin heifers dominated the breed types in the sale, with those weighing 200kg to 300kg averaging €2.74/kg, while those weighing 300kg to 400kg came in at €2.46/kg, with the top third of animals in this weight band making €2.68/kg.

The weanling bulls met a slightly cooler trade than the heifers, with bulls weighing 200kg to 300kg averaging €2.50/kg, with better-quality types making €2.70/kg.

Bulls weighing 300kg to 400kg averaged €2.29/kg, while those over 400kg averaged €2.10/kg.

A small entry of dry cows averaged €1.72/kg, with a top price of €1,510 paid for a 2011-born Limousin weighing 790kg (€1.91/kg).

This Belgian Blue heifer, born September 2019, weighed 328kg and sold for €900 (€2.74/kg).
This April 2020-born Limousin bull weighed 452kg and sold for €820 (€1.81/kg).
This March 2020-born Charolais bull weighing 506kg sold for €1,100 (€2.17/kg).
This April 2020-born Charolais bull weighed 522kg and sold for €1,200 (€2.30/kg).
This Charolais bull calf, born May 2020, weighed 356kg and sold for €890 (€2.50/kg).