In pictures: high clearance rate at Carrigallen Mart weanling bull sale

There were 150 bulls sold through the ring at last Saturday's weanling bull sale in Carrigallen with a 90% clearance rate.

October is the month that weanling sales get busy in the west and there are over 700 bull calves booked in for the annual show and sale of weanlings next Saturday 3 October.

Trade on the day was brisk for top-quality calves.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, mart manager Helen Kells said the weanling trade has started off well, with weanlings across all weight categories up on last year’s levels.

Great calves

“We are up €30 to €40 on last year’s price which is great. The good calves always come out first and we have some great calves coming next Saturday for our big sale.

"Exporter activity has got busier in the last three weeks, with a number of exporters in attendance at last Saturday’s sale," she said.

Bull calves in the 300kg to 400kg bracket were making €2.50/kg on Saturday, with the tops hitting €3/kg.

The top-priced calf in the 300kg to 400kg bracket was a January-born Charolais-cross weighing 375kg that made €1,120 (€2.98/kg).

Lighter calves are an especially good trade, with strong farmer appetite for good-quality calves.

These lighter calves in the 200kg to 300kg bracket were generally trading around €2.70/kg, with the top-priced calf weighing 270kg making €870 (€3.22/kg).

Heavier calves over 400kg were a little easier shifted, with the average price settling around €2.20/kg.

Top price in the over-400kg category went to a 475kg Charolais calf and he made €1,160 (€2.44/kg).