Numbers were up marginally on last week in Clare Marts in Ennis at this week’s sale, with 800 weanlings in the yard.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, mart manager Martin McNamara said demand was improved for all types of stock, with good farmer activity. Average prices on Tuesday were 99% of what they were for the same sale 12 months ago.

Good-quality bull calves in the 320kg to 380kg weight bracket were making between €2.50/kg and €3.00/kg.

Exceptional-quality lots were making in excess of €3/kg, with plenty of customers for these.

Lesser-quality bull calves were being bought for in the region of €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg.

In the heifer ring, trade was a little easier, with lighter poorer-quality heifers selling around the €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg. Again, quality made a big difference, with some exceptional lots breaking the €3 mark. The general run of good-quality heifers was around the €2.30/kg to €2.40 /kg mark.

The Irish Farmers Journal was in Ennis to launch the newly developed MartBids app, which provides users with the ability to advertise stock ahead of mart sales, keep track of stock at mart sales and look at mart prices for all stock sold when on the mart premises.

Listen to "Martin McNamara, manager of Clare Marts in Ennis" on Spreaker.

Speaking at the launch, Martin McNamara said they were delighted to be involved with the new app and Clare Marts saw it as an important part of developing their business in the years ahead by moving with technology and becoming more applicable to the younger generation.