Bucket-reared and dairy cross weanlings performed better than anticipated at Tuesday’s sale in Kanturk Mart.

Mart manager Seamus O’Keeffe was concerned in early August that dairy cross runners would be in short supply but his fears were tempered by today’s turnout.

“The dairy cross and Friesian weanlings performed very well but continentals were back a few cent/kg.”

This could largely be put down to the fact that most exporters have the cattle they need at the moment.

Dairy cross weanlings proved to be very good sellers, with bucket-reared traditional breed crosses making between €2.20/kg and €2.60/kg, with a smaller proportion selling outside of this price range.

Friesian bull weanlings were making from €1.65/kg up to €2/kg for those closer to 300kg.

In the bull weanling section, strong R to U grading bulls under 350kg were making from €2.35/kg up €2.75/kg, with heavily muscled lots under 300kg selling for up to €3.07/kg.

Heavier bulls were scarce and made up to €2.40/kg.

Most continental heifers made between €2.20/kg to €2.50/kg, with select lots getting a few c/kg more.

Champion

Champion of the show and sale went to a March 2017-born Charolais heifer owned by Margaret O’Farrell from Moher, Derrinagree.

The weanling weighed 295kg and sold for €1,450 (€4.92/kg). Reserve champion was a January 2017-born Limousin bull owned by William O’Connor, Kiskeam.

The weanling weighed 305kg and made €860 (€2.82/kg).

The sale champion

Sample bull prices

Sample heifer prices

This November 2016-born heifer weighed 400kg and made €1,050 (€2.63/kg).