The slip in suckler numbers is being felt a bit more in areas where dairy and beef herds meet and the Duhallow region in northwest Cork would be such an area.

Suckler weanling numbers were back at Kanturk Mart for its annual weanling show and sale on Tuesday last, but dairy runners filled the gap.

Trade was solid throughout, with €3/kg to €3.65/kg paid for continental weanlings, but the volume of numbers from previous years weren’t the same as before.

Speaking after the event, mart manager Seamus O’Keeffe said: “We didn’t have great numbers at the autumn sale last year, so this year we said we’d have one big weanling sale for spring and autumn-born calves.

“Trade was as good as other years and we noticed very good demand when it came to the runners.”

Spring 2024-born Friesian bull calves were making from €1.95/kg to €2.10/kg, with Angus- and Hereford-crosses selling for up to €2.80/kg.

Forward cattle remain a super trade at the north Cork venue.

“The dry cows took the biscuit altogether. There’s fierce demand from factory buyers and you’re looking at €1.60/kg to €1.70/kg for the poorer Friesian cows now.”