€1,150 paid for weanling bull at show
The top-price animal, which was a second prize winner in his class at the show, was a Belgian Blue bull weighing 575 kgs exhibited by Pat Flynn, Menlough, and purchased by Michael Stephens, Corofin for €1,150.
The champion of the show was a Belgian Blue bull exhibited by John Murphy, Fahy, Eyrecourt.
The bull, which weighed 530 kgs, was purchased by Kieran Burke, Sligo for €1,100.
The Reserve Champion was a Belgian Blue bull weighing 345 kgs, exhibited by Pat Finn, Frenchfort, Oranmore, and sold for €900.
Another of the high-priced animals at the sale was a Charolais bull weighing 540 kgs, entered by John O’Flaherty, Ardrahan, and sold for €1,020.
The general range of prices for weanling bulls varied from €370 over €/kg to €575 over with top quality stock meeting with an excellent trade.
There was also a lively trade for weanling heifers. The quality heifers made over €200 with e/kg with up to €325 over €/kg being paid for the tops of the heifers.
Weanling prices across the country are showing little change on 2003 prices, confirming that prices are not being adjusted for the loss of the second premia payment worth €150 for SBP at 21 months plus up to €80/head for extensification, which are not applicable to this year’s crop of weanlings because of the changeover to Single Payment System at the beginning of 2005.
As the numbers of weanlings on offer at the mart sales increase to the seasonal peak, most of the weanling bulls are selling at €300-€430 over €/kg and heifers ranging €130-€210 over €/kg.
