Weanling prices up on last year

Marts: Year-to-date indications are that the average price being paid to producers for weanlings is up on 2006 by a margin of just over 7%, with heifers showing marginally more gain than bulls.

The increase for both bulls and heifers year-to-date is averaging €10/100kg (€5/cwt) according to the official statistics as compiled from mart sales by the Department of Agriculture.

However, while the figures are based on “average” reports from the live sales around the country — there are winners and losers in this years trade which is following a different pattern to 2006 for individual categories of weanlings.

There is a very strong trade for the top quality continental weanlings which are being bought for export at up to €600 over €/kg for choice lots — in competition between exporters around the ringsides which has priced most of the home feeders out of the market.

Alternatively the middle run of weanlings and the light weanlings are trailing last year by €60/head to €100/head with the plain light weanling being hit the hardest.

Within the export category, buyers are showing a clear preference for vaccinated animals for which they are prepared to pay a handsome premium.

Martin McNamara, manager at Ennis Mart where there was 750 head on offer, said that prices are showing an average of up to €100/head more for the vaccinated weanlings.

He said that while the non vaccinated bull weanlings ranged €200 over to €430 over, the vaccinated bulls sold for €250 over to €530 over and the pattern was similar for the heifers, which ranged up to €515 over for the vaccinated lots, while the non vaccinated heifers sold for up to €430 over.

Kevin Leahy, Manager, Golden Vale Mart, Kilmallock — where they will hold their annual Weanling Show and Sale on Monday next — reported a very good weanling trade with up to €400 over for bulls and €250 over for heifers.