Strong weanling export trading

Marts: The Belgian Blue breed dominated the top awards at the Annual Weanling Show and Sale at Macroom Mart taking both overall Champion of the Show and Reserve Champion.

A 460kg Belgian Blue bull, shown by Jim McSweeney, Macroom, was judged Champion of the Show and sold for €1,100 — for export.

Donoughmore’s Jim Twomey, showed the reserve champion, a Belgian Blue bull, weighing 440kg and sold for €1,050 to Pat Kelliher.

There was good trade for the quality lots in Show and Sale for which exported competed, but the plainer type of weanling for which the principle customers were farmers proved to be a harder sell.

Exceptional prices were paid for the choice quality weanlings all of which were being purchased for export with competition for the tops. Most of these were making €450 over €/kg to €785 over. A Belgian Blue bull 412kg sold for €1,200, a 500kg Limousin made €1,100, a Belgian Blue 480kg sold for €1,120, and a lot of four Limousin 412kg fetched €900.

A Belgian Blue heifer weighing 400kg sold for €900, a Charolais 460kg made €910, and a Belgian Blue 335kgs fetched €900, a Limousin 355kg made €575, a Hereford x 315kg sold for €450, and an Angus 275kg made €360.

There was over 1,400 head at the weanling sale at Castleisland Mart where exceptionally strong prices were paid for the tops of the entry for export. Bulls with potential to grade U ranged €450 — €700 over €/kg with prices ranging from €300-€350 for plain lots likely to grade R/O.

There is a weaning Show and Sale at Skibbereen Mart on September 1st and weanling sales for the season will begin at Dungarvan Mart on September 7th.