Last Saturday’s special weanling sale at Scariff Mart saw a good entry of over 280 weanlings on offer. The trade was quite strong, with farmers and exporters active. Feeders were also quite active for all good-quality heavy bulls.

Mart manager Martin McNamara said that the backbone of the trade was farmer demand, which kept a firm floor under all prices. Along with this, the quality of cattle on offer stood to the trade also.

Those over 450kg were a strong trade, with the majority selling from €2.22/kg to €2.68/kg. Heavy heifers over 400kg were met with good demand also, with prices ranging mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg. Weanling bulls from 300kg to 400kg sold mainly from €2.40/kg to €2.60/kg, with the top-quality prizewinners making around €3.00/kg.

Weanling heifers sold mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.45/kg, with top-quality types making from €2.60/kg to €2.80/kg. Lighter weanling heifers from 200kg to 300kg were only available in limited numbers, with the majority of weanlings on offer between 300kg and 400kg.

Heifers from 200kg to 300kg sold mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.60/kg, with better-quality types selling for over €2.80/kg. Light weanling bulls were a very strong trade also, with prices averaging at €2.90/kg, with top-quality types making over €3.30/kg. Commission rates are 1.4% to the seller to a maximum of €13 for singles and 1.2% to a maximum of €11 for doubles, and €9 to the buyer.