Loughrea Mart hosted the first of its Friday evening sales last week, with a special weanling sale leading proceedings.

This special sale featured a pre-sale show with five separate classes for different continental-type stock.

This 325kg Charolais heifer sold for €750 (€2.30/kg).

Class one was for the best Charolais bull weanling on offer, with the champion securing the top price per kilogram. Weighing 237.5kg, he sold for €720 or €3.03/kg.

Top of class two for Limousin bulls was a 355kg weanling that sold for €1,060 (€2.99/kg).

This 415kg Charolais heifer born last April sold for €790 (€1.90/kg).

Red rosette

In class four, all Belgian Blue weanlings were judged, with a 455kg bull taking the red rosette and selling for €1,050.

This March 2020-born Limousin heifer weighed 430kg and sold for €980 (€2.28/kg).

The final two classes of the sale were for Charolais heifers and Limousin heifers.

Best of the Charolais was a 255kg heifer that sold for €750 (€2.94/kg). In the Limousin class, first place went to a 265kg heifer that sold for €720 (€2.72/kg).

This March 2020-born Charolais heifer weighed 390kg and sold for €1,070 (€2.74/kg).

The sale attracted a total entry of almost 200 cattle, with over 95% of weanlings finding new homes.

Strong farmer activity

Very little exporter activity meant that farmer activity was very strong.

While generally not going for the top-end lots, they helped drive the middle ground animal.

This May 2020-born Limousin bull weighed 355kg and sold for €630 (€1.77/kg).

These same buyers weren’t afraid of the lighter weight lots as long as they carried enough shape.

This strong demand meant that the average price across bulls and heifers stood at around the €2.50/kg mark.

The majority-continental make-up at the sale saw bull prices start at €2.25/kg and, as highlighted, exceed the €3/kg mark.

This pair of Angus bulls born April 2020 had an average weight of 282kg and sold for €610 (€2.16/kg).

Heifer trade was working off a similar price range, just with fewer numbers forward.

Mart manager comment

Speaking after the sale, mart manager Jimmy Cooney said: “We had a large number of bull weanlings on offer and sellers were very happy with the prices.

This July-born Limousin bull weighed 300kg and sold for €680 (€2.27/kg).

“Heifers weren’t as plentiful and probably not as strong, but all around a good evening’s trading.

“In general, cattle numbers are a little back, but trade overall is good. People understand that the online is here to stay and it’s a means of getting by for now.”

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