Quality weanlings continue strong
Shippers are not as active around the sales rings this week, which is having an effect on the trade, and the word among the trade yesterday was that some shippers are having difficulty in getting weanlings to the continent this week.
The quality continental weanlings are still making top dollar, with very little difference from last year, regardless of the removal of the premiums. But the focus of the feeders is focused on the upper end of the quality range and the difference in price between quality animals and plain stock has risen.
The tops of the weanling bulls sold for up to €415 over €/kg at Ennis Mart yesterday where the supply was similar to last week. The best of the continental breed heifers made €270 over.
Some of the tops at the sale included a Charolais bull weighing 352kg sold for €765 and a Charolais 354kg which made €406.
The quality lots generally made €320-€400 over, while the plain animal had fewer interested customers at prices slipping to €200 over. Plain heifers made back to €130 over.
At Kanturk Mart the best of the continental weanling bulls made €260 over, while the heifers peaked at e180 over. At Kilmallock Mart up to €350 over was paid for the top of the continental bulls - prices ranging back to €200 over - while continental heifers peaked at €255 over and plainer lots sold back to €120 over.
Weanling sales begin at Dungarvan Mart tomorrow and there is a weanling sale at Fermoy Mart on Friday. Evening weanling sales start at Roscrea Mart this evening at 6.30pm.
