Mart managers across the country are reporting higher than usual numbers of weanlings offered for sale this year.

While specialised weanling sales usually kick off in early July, numbers usually stay small until August.

However, the strong demand witnessed at marts over the past number of weeks for other stock types means that farmer confidence is high.

The hot start to weanling sales in west Kerry last week has seen some sellers head to the mart four to six weeks ahead of usual. This early weanling mart turnout is being met with exceptional demand.

Analysis of MartBids data shows that male weanlings weighing between 300kg and 400kg proved to have the biggest turnout, with prices rising also by 7c/kg on the week.

Overall, average price for this weight category stands at €2.62/kg.

This price is up 24c/kg on the same week of 2020, an increase of €75 to €95 per head on average.

This increase was even more substantial for better-quality lots of the same weight, with the average price hitting just shy of €3/kg. This is a massive 27c/kg up on the same week last year.

Heavier weanlings are also very much in demand.

While price per kilo isn’t as high in most cases, this week in Ennis prices for autumn-born weanlings weighing 500kg hit just shy of €1,500.

Numbers of heifer weanlings haven’t seen the same increase but those forward to date are much smaller than their male comrades.

Ennis Mart manager Martin McNamara, speaking after the mart’s first specialised autumn sale, said bull and heifer prices were exceptional for this time of year, up €80/hd on 12 months ago.