Last Monday saw a special bank holiday weanling sale take place at Elphin Mart.

Mart manager Gerry Connellan said that there was a good entry of about 33 pens of bulls and 18 pens of heifers on offer.

This Charolais cross bull, born November 2018 and weighing 480kg sold for €1,030 (€2.15/kg).

Gerry said that the quality of stock on offer at the sale was very high, which helped prices, with good-quality Charolais weanlings making the tops of the prices.

Overall, prices were back on last year, with heavy bulls being met with the toughest trade.

This Charolais cross weanling heifer, born March 2019 and weighing 350Kg sold for €985 (€2.81/kg).

Having said that, Gerry added that there are still bull finishers actively sourcing stock, but only top-quality young bulls suitable for finishing under 16 months of age.

This Charolais cross weanling heifer, born October 2018 and wegihing 415Kg sold for €1,020 (€2.46/kg).

Gerry said that in terms of prices, heavy bulls were back by up to €170/head, with the majority of those from 300kg to 400kg back by about €100/head on the same sale last year.

Heifer prices were not as badly affected and prices were back by just €60 to €70/head on last year.

This Charoalis weanling bull, born November 2018 and weighing 395kg sold for €900 (€2.28/kg).

Heavy bulls over 400kg sold mainly from €1,025 to €1,100, with finishers reluctant to pass €1,100 for even the best-quality heavy bulls.

In terms of prices per kilo, prices ranged mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.30/kg, with prices topping out at €2.75/kg.

This Charolais cross weanling bull, born March 2019 and weighing 430kg sold for €1,055 (€2.45/kg).

Lighter bulls from 300kg to 400kg were a comparably better trade, with prices only back a little on last year.

The majority of good-quality bulls from 300kg to 400kg sold from €800 to €920/head. Prices were back by about €60/head on last year.

This Charolais cross weanling bull, born January 2019 and weighing 420kg sold for €975 (€2.32/kg).

Weanling heifers were a reasonably good trade, with those from 300kg to 400kg selling mainly from €750 to €930.

Prices ranged mainly from €2.27/kg to €2.68/kg, with €2.82/kg the highest price paid.

Gerry said that although farmers were not happy with the prices they received, the majority of them still chose to sell, as with increasing uncertainty over Brexit and beef prices, they are becoming more worried about the autumn trade.

The sheep sale saw prices improve slightly.

This pen of 17 lambs weighing 47kg on average sold for €97 each (€2.06/kg).

Gerry said that factory lambs sold from €94 to €97/head, with heavy lambs over 50kg selling for up to €99/head.

Stores made around the €2.00/kg mark, while cull ewes sold mainly from €86 to €127/head.

Commission rates are 1.8% to the seller and €10 to the buyer.

This pen of five lambs weighing 46.5Kg on average sold for €94 each (€2.02/kg).

This pen of seven lambs weighing 51kg on average sold for €95 each (€1.86/kg).

This pen of 22 lambs weighing 53kg on average sold for €98 each (€1.85/kg).

This pen of four ewe lambs an five ram lambs weighing 51kg on average sold for €96 each (€1.88/kg).