Elphin Mart had over 660 weanlings through the rings last Monday. There were 402 bull calves and 202 heifer calves sold, representing a 91% clearance rate.
Elphin is famous for good cattle and the annual show and sale for weanlings is always a day for the best to come out. It attracts both weanlings and customers from as far over as Galway and Mayo and up as far as Kildare.
Top call of the day went to a November-born Charolais calf weighing 520kg which sold for €1350 (€2.60/kg).
As is the case in every mart, heavier calves are a little harder shifted this year, with the best money going for the 300-400kg calf. This weight has loads of options - bull beef, and stores for next year or steer beef.
The top end of the bull calves in this bracket were hitting €3/kg, with a number of calves around 320kg making over €1,100 on several occasions (+€3.40/kg). Good-quality calves in the same weight bracket were making €2.60-€2.80/kg.
This first prize winning Charolais bull calf weighed 405kg and sold for €1,150 (€2.84/kg).
This February 2020-born Charolais bull calf weighed 400kg and sold for €1,220 (€3.05).
This November 2019-born Charolais bull weighed 520kg and sold for €1,350 (€2.60/kg).
Heifer calves were a good trade also. They were a little easier than the bulls for the tops, but 300-400kg heifers were still heading for €3 and over it for the prize winners on the day. Light calves were in demand in this ring, with calves around the 300kg mark a particularly good trade hitting €900 and over it on several occasions. Heifers over 400kg were making around the €2.40-€2.60/kg, with a couple of the top lots exceeding €3/kg.
This March-born Charolais heifer calf weighed 375kg and sold for €1,060 (€2.82)
This January-born Charolais heifer calf weighed 355kg and sold for €1,060 (€2.99/kg)
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Elphin Mart manager Gerry Connellan said: “We were up €20-€30/head on last year’s sale. We have lads that wait for this sale every year to buy their calves. Some of these men will be selling bullocks and heifers at our special sales in the next two weeks and will be hitting €1,400 to €1,600 for them so that’s why weanlings are hitting €1000 this week. We had great farmer activity and a number of exporters working online also.”
Elphin Mart had over 660 weanlings through the rings last Monday. There were 402 bull calves and 202 heifer calves sold, representing a 91% clearance rate.
Elphin is famous for good cattle and the annual show and sale for weanlings is always a day for the best to come out. It attracts both weanlings and customers from as far over as Galway and Mayo and up as far as Kildare.
Top call of the day went to a November-born Charolais calf weighing 520kg which sold for €1350 (€2.60/kg).
As is the case in every mart, heavier calves are a little harder shifted this year, with the best money going for the 300-400kg calf. This weight has loads of options - bull beef, and stores for next year or steer beef.
The top end of the bull calves in this bracket were hitting €3/kg, with a number of calves around 320kg making over €1,100 on several occasions (+€3.40/kg). Good-quality calves in the same weight bracket were making €2.60-€2.80/kg.
This first prize winning Charolais bull calf weighed 405kg and sold for €1,150 (€2.84/kg).
This February 2020-born Charolais bull calf weighed 400kg and sold for €1,220 (€3.05).
This November 2019-born Charolais bull weighed 520kg and sold for €1,350 (€2.60/kg).
Heifer calves were a good trade also. They were a little easier than the bulls for the tops, but 300-400kg heifers were still heading for €3 and over it for the prize winners on the day. Light calves were in demand in this ring, with calves around the 300kg mark a particularly good trade hitting €900 and over it on several occasions. Heifers over 400kg were making around the €2.40-€2.60/kg, with a couple of the top lots exceeding €3/kg.
This March-born Charolais heifer calf weighed 375kg and sold for €1,060 (€2.82)
This January-born Charolais heifer calf weighed 355kg and sold for €1,060 (€2.99/kg)
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Elphin Mart manager Gerry Connellan said: “We were up €20-€30/head on last year’s sale. We have lads that wait for this sale every year to buy their calves. Some of these men will be selling bullocks and heifers at our special sales in the next two weeks and will be hitting €1,400 to €1,600 for them so that’s why weanlings are hitting €1000 this week. We had great farmer activity and a number of exporters working online also.”
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