Weanling prices have risen by €20-€40/head in the last 10 days.
Strong grass supplies in the south are luring weanling buyers out earlier this year. Buyers are hunting for good-quality bulls and heifers.
Special weanling sales in Mohill, Tuam and Roscommon this week recorded a livelier trade.
Mart managers are reporting farmers bidding earlier than usual and competing against specialist beef finishers and live exporters.
MartWatch figures show that the top third of 320-350kg bulls are selling from €820-€950/head, with heifers in the same weight range at similar prices.
These are on a par with 2018.
Against a background of poor beef prices and Brexit uncertainty, some had feared weanling prices could tumble, but these fears have so far proved unfounded.
Prices for average-quality 350kg weanling bulls are 24c/kg or €80/hd below last year, due to reduced demand from exporters, particularly for the now-suspended Turkish trade.
The average 350kg weanling heifer price is 7c/kg or €25/head back on the same week last year.
Demand for dairy cross bulls and heifers under 300kg is much weaker. Prices are back by 2427c/kg or €60-€70/head on the same week last year, with dairy crosses selling from €1.40-€1.60/kg.
Friesian bulls in particular are meeting a difficult trade, selling for as little as €1.10-€1.30/kg.
Weanling prices have risen by €20-€40/head in the last 10 days.
Strong grass supplies in the south are luring weanling buyers out earlier this year. Buyers are hunting for good-quality bulls and heifers.
Special weanling sales in Mohill, Tuam and Roscommon this week recorded a livelier trade.
Mart managers are reporting farmers bidding earlier than usual and competing against specialist beef finishers and live exporters.
MartWatch figures show that the top third of 320-350kg bulls are selling from €820-€950/head, with heifers in the same weight range at similar prices.
These are on a par with 2018.
Against a background of poor beef prices and Brexit uncertainty, some had feared weanling prices could tumble, but these fears have so far proved unfounded.
Prices for average-quality 350kg weanling bulls are 24c/kg or €80/hd below last year, due to reduced demand from exporters, particularly for the now-suspended Turkish trade.
The average 350kg weanling heifer price is 7c/kg or €25/head back on the same week last year.
Demand for dairy cross bulls and heifers under 300kg is much weaker. Prices are back by 2427c/kg or €60-€70/head on the same week last year, with dairy crosses selling from €1.40-€1.60/kg.
Friesian bulls in particular are meeting a difficult trade, selling for as little as €1.10-€1.30/kg.
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