There was a large entry of almost 300 cattle at last Friday’s weekly sale of cattle in Donegal Livestock mart which included a show and sale of weanlings. Exporters and large finisher buyers drove the trade with some exceptional prices being paid for the top quality weanlings in the sale.

A few heifers crossed the €5/kg with the top price of €2020 being paid for an April 2024 born Belgian blue heifer weanling weighing 336kg (€6.01/kg). Heavy Charolais bulls where in demand with farmer finishers having the upper hand when it came to buying these.

One of the top prices was €1770 being paid for an October 2023 born Charolais bull weighing 486kg (€3.64/kg). A number of Belgian Blue bull weanlings weighing 400-500kg crossed the €1800/ head mark. A number of red Limouisn bull weanlings crossed the €4/kg mark with exporters driving the trade for red limousin cattle.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal Mart manager Eimear McGuiness said “ We had a super yard of weanlings here last Friday which were a credit to our local farmers. Good weanlings are an exceptional trade. The export trade remains the key driver of weanling prices with big demand for weanlings in the 300-400kg weight bracket.