Ennis Mart’s special weanling sale held on Tuesday generated intense competition and record prices, with 26 lots hitting the €3,000 mark and heifers topping at a remarkable price of €11/kg-plus.
Clare Mart manager Martin McNamara reported that heifers on offer were an average of 8kg heavier than the corresponding sale in 2024, but that sale prices were €1,008/head higher.
Bulls were a similar weight, with the average price €1,000/head higher.
Farmers specialising in breeding show-quality cattle or specialist heifer producers drove the trade for top-quality muscled heifers.
The top price on the day was €5,040 paid for a top-quality Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighing 525kg, while the highest price per kilo of €11.07/kg was paid for a well-marked Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighing 335kg.
While Belgian Blues featured among the top prices, there was also an excellent trade for Limousin and Charolais weanlings.
Price analysis
MartBids analysis shows the average price of weanling bull weighing 300kg to 400kg averaged €6.20/kg, with the top third coming in at €6.93/kg and the bottom third at €5.46/kg.
Bulls weighing 400kg to 450kg also recorded a high average of €6.18/kg, with the top third matching the 300kg to 400kg weight category at €6.92/kg and the bottom third at €5.48/kg.
Weanling heifers weighing 300kg to 400kg averaged €6.24/kg, with the top third at €7.29/kg and the bottom third at €5.37/kg. Average prices for heavier lots weighing in excess of 400kg were even stronger at €6.27/kg, with the top third reaching an average of €7.90/kg.
This excellent-quality Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighing 525kg and born 08/09/24 sold for the top price in the sale of €5,040 (€9.60/kg).
The first-prizewinning heifer was this 420kg roan-coloured Belgian Blue-cross born 04/01/25 which sold for €4,360 (€10.38/kg).
This second-prizewinning Belgian Blue-cross heifer born 06/11/24 and weighing 390kg sold for €4,000 (€10.26/kg).
Weighing 450kg, this nice-quality roan-coloured Belgian Blue-cross heifer born 15/06/24 sold for €3,870 (€8.60/kg).
This well-marked Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighing 335kg and born 03/10/24 sold for €3,710, or the highest price per kilo of €11.07/kg.
Weighing 395kg, this Limousin-cross heifer born 24/01/25 sold for €3,540 (€8.96/kg).
This first-prizewinning heifer in the Charolais section was this 430kg quality lot born 04/01/25 which sold for €3,530 (€8.21/kg).
One for the bull – this Simmental-cross heifer weighing 490kg and born 29/05/24 sold for €2,980 (€6.08/kg).
Bulls
This first-prizewinning Belgian Blue bull weighing 425kg and born 10/02/25 sold for €3,750 (€8.82/kg).
Weighing 445kg, this first-prizewinning Limousin bull born 25/01/25 sold for €3,450 (€7.75/kg)
This 490kg black Belgian Blue-cross bull with great length and born 02/01/25 sold for €3,310 (€6.76/kg).
The first-prizewinning bull in the Limousin section was this 380kg bull born 20/01/25 which sold for €3,280 (€8.63/kg).
This heavy Limousin-cross bull weighing 510kg and born 21/09/24 sold for €3,080 (€6.04/kg).
This second-prizewinning Limousin-cross bull weighing 425kg and born 07/12/24 sold for €2,880 (€6.78/kg).
SHARING OPTIONS