The 2025 autumn weanling trade has kicked off with a bang with the first big sale of autumn-born weanlings taking place in Iveragh Co-op Mart in Co Kerry this week.

The country’s leading exporters were out in force with almost 60% of the weanlings in the sale being purchased for export. Prices were up €2/kg on the same sale in 2024, with the top-quality weanling in the 300-400kg weight bracket coming in at €5.54/kg, up from €3.49/kg or €700/head on the 2024 sale.

A remarkable 63% of the weanlings in the sale sold for over €2,000/head.

A combination of a hot cattle trade all year and reduced suckler cow numbers has meant weanling numbers coming out for sale this autumn will be severely reduced. Suckler calf registrations are currently down almost 19,000 head for the first six months of 2025 compared with 2024.

As bluetongue ravages Europe, coupled with a shortage of finished cattle on the European market, finishers on the continent are very anxious for stock, with a bluetongue-free Ireland being one of the only options for sourcing top-quality weanlings.

Ireland is now entering a high-risk period for the spread of the disease with warm weather and easterly winds putting Irish authorities on high alert. A bluetongue outbreak in Ireland would put live exports of weanlings and other cattle in jeopardy, with a 150km exclusion zone being put in place around any confirmed case restricting animal movements and live exports.