Prices for bull weanlings have jumped by €30/head to €50/head this week on the back of demand for 5,000 Irish weanlings for the Turkish market.

Weanlings being bought for the market are averaging 350kg, with €3/kg and above being paid in recent days. Two exporters are currently buying to fill contracts, which has added some competition to the trade. Over 600 bull weanlings went through the Carrigallen Mart ring in Co Leitrim last Saturday, with the trade described as very hot with exporters snapping up cattle.

Balla Mart had an exceptional sale on Tuesday, with the top third of bull weanlings in the 300kg to 400kg bracket hitting €3.49/kg (between €1,050/head and €1,400/head) at the sale.

News of the deal will be a welcome boost to suckler farmers with October traditionally being the busiest month for weanling sales.

In 2017, Ireland exported over 30,000 weanlings to Turkey on the back of very strong demand and government-backed contracts.

The trade has been stymied in recent years due to currency and economic problems.