Tuesday’s sale at Ennis Mart saw another strong entry of weanlings, with numbers up on the same sale last year. There were about 470 weanlings on offer and mart manager Martin McNamara said that prices were up by about €20/head compared with pre-Christmas trade.

There was a share of heavy bulls over 400kg on offer and these were a similar trade to last week. Prices ranged mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg for average-quality types, with top-quality bulls making over €2.55/kg. Bulls from 300kg to 400kg were a strong trade, with prices ranging from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg, with better-quality types making over €2.70/kg to €2.80/kg. Light bulls under 300kg continue to be a strong and steady trade, with prices of better-quality lots up slightly on December. The average 250kg to 300kg bull sold for €2.50/kg to €2.60/kg, with the top third making around €3.00/kg. The heifer trade mirrored the bull trade. Prices were higher in cases. Those from 300kg to 400kg sold mainly from €2.40/kg to €2.60/kg, with top-quality types making from €2.60/kg to €2.90/kg. Good-quality light heifers from 250kg to 280kg sold mainly from €2.60/kg to €2.70/kg, with the tops reaching over €3.00/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.