Camera at the Mart: heavy bullocks hit €3,810 in Carnaross

Carnaross Mart held its calf and bullock sale on Monday of this week, with 297 bullocks and 408 calves on offer.

Export buyers buying calves for continental Europe continue to drive the calf trade, with good demand for both young and reared calves

Trade remained steady for bullocks in Carnaross on Monday, despite the recent drop in factory prices.

A large proportion of the heavier U grading factory-fit bullocks surpassed €3,000/head.

The top price went to an April 2021-born Limousin-cross bullock weighing 860kg that sold for €3,810 (€4.43/kg).

Other standout lots included a pair of stylish September 2022-born Limousin-cross bullocks making €3,640 each (€4.49/kg).

There was also a selection of factory-fit Aberdeen Angus and Hereford bullocks on offer, with €3,040 being paid for a November 2022-born Aberdeen Angus-cross bullock weighing 720kg (€4.22/kg).

A February 2023-born Hereford cross-bullock weighing 665kg sold for €2,560 (€3.85/kg).

There was a large number of high-quality continental Limousin- and Charolais-cross bullocks in the 550kg to 650kg weight bracket on offer, with a 560kg May 2023-born Charolais-cross bullock selling for €2,690 (€4.80/kg).

A plainer Aberdeen Angus-cross bullock in the same weight bracket weighing 635kg sold for €2,550 (€4.02/kg).

Lighter continental bullocks with good potential made the highest price per kg, with €1,870 apiece being paid for a pair of April 2024-born Belgian Blue-cross bullocks weighing 362kg each (€5.17/kg).

Three April 2024-born Charolais-cross bullocks weighing 373kg sold for €1,850 each (€4.96/kg).

Calves

The calf trade was on fire, with strong demand from both farmers and exporters for the 408 calves on offer.

One of the standout lots was a five-week-old Charolais bull calf selling for €890. Other standout lots included a two-week-old Hereford-cross bull calf selling for €790 and a four- week-old Belgian Blue-cross heifer calf selling for €870.

A two-week-old Friesian bull calf weighing 53kg sold for €485.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal after the sale, mart manager Padraig Mc Elroy said: “The trade for bullocks is remaining steady, with export buyers buying calves for continental Europe really pushing on the calf trade.”