The annual special weanling sale in Iveragh Co-operative Mart in Caherciveen was held on Tuesday and met a lively trade from start to finish. Just five animals from an entry of almost 300 head on offer went unsold.

These six Limouisn bulls born June to September 2019 and weighing 414kg sold for €970 each (€2.34/kg).

Manager Mike Kissane said that the quality of the yard of cattle on offer helped the trade greatly. He said the weather in recent months has suited farmers in the area and that weanlings were presented in excellent condition.

This lot of five Charolais weanling bulls born August 2019 and weighing 400kg on average sold for €970 each (€2.43/kg).

The trade was described as very consistent and this is reflected in the prices paid. Of the 160 odd bulls on offer, there were 25 weighing less than 300kg. These averaged €2.65/kg, with a top price of €2.89/kg paid for a batch of three Charolais and one Belgian Blue bull weighing 287.5kg.

This pair of Limousin weanling bulls born November 2019 and weighing 365kg sold for €860 each (€2.36/kg).

There were 74 bulls in the 300kg to 400kg weight category. Prices here were very even, with an average of €2.50/kg and only three bulls selling for less than €2.20/kg and top prices ranging from €2.60/kg to €2.80/kg.

This lot of 11 Charolais weanling bulls born April/June/Sept/Oct 2019 and weighing an average of 337.5kg sold for €900 each (€2.67/kg).

It was a similar trend of consistency for heavier bulls. There was an entry of 45 bulls weighing between 400kg and 430kg. Prices averaged €2.32/kg, with bulls here averaging 412kg liveweight and ranging in price from €2.20/kg to €2.43/kg.

This lot of four Charolais weanling bulls born Sep/Oct/Nov 2019 and weighing 287.5Kg sold for €830 each (€2.89/kg).

An entry of 18 bulls weighing from 450kg to 480kg averaged €2.30/kg, with a price range of €2.25/kg to €2.36/kg. These prices are 15c/kg to 20c/kg higher than the corresponding sale in 2019, where heavy bulls were a challenging trade.

This Charolais weanling heifer born August 2019 and weighing 335kg sold for €820 (€2.45/kg).

A feature of the sale that is not regularly seen elsewhere is cattle offered in large batches from four to five head to as high as 10 to 11 head each lot. Mike says buyers have a preference for these lots in special sales as it allows them purchase animals from the one farm.

This lot of four quality Limousin heifers born June and July 2019 and weighing an average of 376kg sold for €1,030 (€2.74/kg) each.

There were 60 heifers on offer, with quality again reported as excellent and the trade also dominated by farmer buyers. 45 heifers weighed from 300kg to 400kg and achieved an average price of €2.43/kg with a typical range from €2.25/kg to €2.60/kg. There were 15 heifers weighing from 247.5kg to 295kg and these averaged €2.51/kg.

This 335kg Limousin heifer born October 2019 and weighing 335kg sold for €845 (€2.52/kg).

An entry of 15 Limousin in-calf heifers averaging 594kg (535kg to 680kg) and due to calve from August onwards met solid demand. Prices ranged from €1,200 to a top of €1,890 and an average of €1,480.

These three Limousin heifers born in August and September 2019 and averaging 316.7kg sold for €790 each (€2.49/kg).

Commission rates are 1%, with a minimum of €5 and maximum of €12 (plus €5 entry fee) to the seller and €10 to the buyer.

This lot of three Limousin heifers born September 2019 and weighing 318kg sold for €780 each (€2.45/kg).

This Simmental heifer born July 2019 and weighing 305kg sold for €755 (€2.48/kg).

This Limousin weanling bull born September 2019 and weighing 365kg sold for €840 (€2.30/kg).

This LM weanling bull born July 2019, weighing 400kg sold for €950.

This lot of five Limousin weanling bulls born June and July 2019 and weighing an average of 480kg sold for €1,080 each (€2.25/kg).

This pair of Charolais weanling bulls born August and November 2019 and weighing an average of 365kg sold for €880 each (€2.41/kg).

This Limousin weanling bull born September 2019 and weighing 360kg sold for €850 (€2.36/kg).