Kenmare Mart hosted a special early weanling sale on Thursday, which helped to boost numbers.

Overall, 350 lots were entered for the sale, which had a 97% clearance rate.

While this number is back around 40 head on the same sale last year, the special weanling entry helped increase numbers on previous weeks.

Speaking after the sale, mart manager Dan McCarthy said: “We were happy enough, as trade was lively. It’s certainly a bit stickier the last two weeks, with lots back about €20/head.

“I’ve no doubt when the grass comes and people get a chance to get cattle out, it will increase again.

“The special sale of weanlings we held helped to increase numbers, with your good Charolais easily hitting the €2.50/kg mark.

“These were the cream of the lot this week, with exporters keen to secure the better lots.”

Hot demand

As Dan states, the Charolais breed was in hot demand, with the top prices coming for the younger, more shapely cattle.

Leading prices was a stylish July 2020-born Charolais heifer that weighed 234kg and sold for €760, or an impressive €3.25/kg.

These lighter weanlings were light on the ground, with the majority exceeding 300kg.

Male weanlings weighing between 300kg and 400kg sold for an average of €2.33/kg, while females of the same weight saw average price 5c/kg higher than this.

Top price was a Charolais bull weighing 314kg that sold for €940 (€2.99/kg).

Topping the females of that weight was a Limousin heifer weighing 303kg that sold for €840 (€2.77/kg).

Substantial hits

As the weight rose, the price took substantial hits across both bulls and heifers.

Bull weanlings between 400kg and 500kg sold for an average of €2.17/kg, while their female counterparts had an average of €2.07/kg.

Topping this section was a 486kg Charolais bull that sold for €1,220 or €2.51/kg.

Female prices in this weight division was led by a 452kg Charolais that sold for €1,010 (€2.23/kg).

Good-quality store heifers generally made around the €2/kg to €2.25/kg mark, with a few exceptions either side.

One well-made Limousin heifer weighed 374kg and sold for €900 (€2.41/kg).

Light bullocks were in high demand, but in short supply. For the right type of steer under 400kg, prices up to €2.75/kg were achievable.

In pictures

This May 2020-born Charoalis bullock weighed 412kg and sold for €940 (€2.28/kg).

This April 2020-born Limousin bullock weighed 420kg sold for €980 (€2.33/kg).

This March 2020-born Limousin bullock weighed 430kg and sold for €940 (€2.19/kg).

This May 2020 Charolais bull weighed 386kg and sold for €920 (€2.38/kg).

This August 2020-born Charolais bull weighed 314kg and sold for €880 (€2.80/kg).

This August 2020-born Hereford bullock weighed 238kg and sold for €535 (€2.25/kg).

This one-month-old suckler-bred Charolais bull calf sold for €445.

This two-week-old Charolais bull calf sold for €255.

This one-month-old Hereford bull calf sold for €200.

This pair of two-week-old Friesian heifer calves sold for €70.

This February 2018-born Limousin heifer weighed 550kg and sold for €1,100 (€2/kg).

This March 2019-born Limousin bull weighed 590kg and sold for €1,290 (€2.19/kg).