There is an onus on farmers to protect export markets and the current high prices for weanlings by ensuring that animals are dosed and vaccinated prior to sale, according to Mayo Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) livestock representative Michael Mitchell.

Exporters dominated the buying for weanlings at marts this week, putting a very strong floor on trade, as prices for quality bulls averaged close to €5/kg and heifers €4.80/kg.

“We need an export market and we need to hold our customers abroad,” Mitchell maintained.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The exporters have warned that they will keep their hands down and that there will be no purchasing of calves if they start giving bother,” the IFA representative pointed out.

“A proper dosing and vaccination programme is the way forward in producing weanlings,” he said.

Early vaccination

Mitchell, who produces top quality weanlings himself, said the key is to dose the calves as the summer progresses and vaccinate early.

“Have the vaccination done in time so that the calves have the immunity built up and the protection got when it comes to weaning and on to selling,” he maintained.

“I know the dosing and vaccination is putting a bit of expense on the calf’s head at farm level, but it’s an investment that we are getting well paid for in the long term.”

Mitchell’s comments were echoed by Stephen Hannon of Aurivo Marts and Eimear McGuinness of Donegal Mart.

There has been a definite increase in the proportion of weanlings that were vaccinated and dosed prior to be being sold, Hannon said, but he doubled down on the need for all farmers to adopt such an approach.

“We are seeing more livestock presented that’s vaccinated and dosed. More is certainly being done at farm level, but we need to build on the progress we’ve made,” Hannon said.

The proportion of weanlings sold without being vaccinated or dosed was not known, but could be sizeable, McGuinness admitted.

“We want the customers for these good cattle, the farmers want the customers for these cattle, so dosing and vaccinating is something that must be done to keep the customers buying,” McGuinness said.