Mart Price Tracker

patsy_mccabe · 29-09-2025 08:00PM

Elphin Mart Online now - Bovanto heifer sale now on Mart Bids.

Albert Johnson · 29-09-2025 08:29PM

Listened to the second half of it on the way home from work. He hadn't that much power going by the weights, a lot of heifers from 580-640kg. €4000 and over is standard enough for springers around here anyway atm and around €4500 seemed to be the run of his. It was easy to see the difference in anything circa 700kg and over as regards price, it takes a big strong heifer calving this side of xmas to get much over €5000.

Jim Simmental · 29-09-2025 08:39PM

Yeah I was dripping in and out of it and about €4500 on average I’d say - some lovely quality cattle probably not to bad of value in the current market.

Will be interesting to see how Herbie’s sale goes next week

patsy_mccabe · 29-09-2025 08:51PM

I only caught the end of it, but nice type of heifers in it. Not too extreme on muscle.

limo_100 · 30-09-2025 07:38AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123862338#Comment_123862338

think it’s on this Friday. I don’t think he will want to sell anything for less than 5k. And I seen Norman Connells sale catalogue for Tuam in a few weeks he will want 7k for a lot of his. He’s selling the good cow and calf that won the all Ireland probably be looking for 20k for the outfit.

patsy_mccabe · 30-09-2025 08:28AM

Herbie's Calved & In-Calf Heifer Sale

💥68 lots in total
📌Venue: Carrigallen Mart
💥Tremendous quality
⏰Friday, Oct 3rd, Evening Sale
Contact Herbie on 086 828 8491 for more information

Herbie's Calved & In-Calf Heifer Sale for sale in Co. Cavan for €0 on DoneDeal

limo_100 · 30-09-2025 08:43AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123863308#Comment_123863308

some great heifers in it and some great outfits. There’s one amazing black parthenaise heifer in it. But I think he has gone too far with blue genetics. Could be better with more limousin. Buys that’s my opinion what do people think? Also there will be at least 10 of them will need a section.

bogman_bass · 30-09-2025 08:29PM

I see some of the exporters are threatening to go on strike next week.

If they stopped bidding on calves that are bawling they would get on better

limo_100 · 30-09-2025 08:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123865572#Comment_123865572

farmers not vaccinating is one thing but farmers not weaning calves in this day and age and expecting a fortune for there calves is disgraceful and not weaning them. any farmer selling a calf not weaned and gets pneumonia should be followed for the treatment costs or full valve plus treatment and compensation if the calf dies. Especially since most farmers are being paid in scep to wean them, they should also be kicked out of the scheme.

Who2 · 30-09-2025 09:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123865619#Comment_123865619

This story is just an excuse to give out about something and give Agri land something to write about. With the scep scheme and just good practice most farmers vaccinate, dose and meal feed nowadays.
however I would be fairly sure the vast majority of calves going through at the weanlings sales aren’t weaned. If an exporter isn’t knowledgeable enough to pick this up he isn’t going to last too long business anyway because they don’t know their job.

People rarely get paid to wean their calves and usually it makes the animal hungry looking with the shine gone off them. The first three quarters of mine are weaned on the trailer going up the road.

Ranting and stomping saying they aren’t going to buy weanlings is absolute bull crap and more than likely something made up or exaggerated by Agri land.

Bass Reeves · 30-09-2025 10:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123865619#Comment_123865619

Farmers will not wean calves because they get paid less for them as the shine is gone off them.

The real issues lies in vaccination and dosing. If calves have been dosed and vaccinated properly it reduces the risk considerably. Calves should be dosed mid summer and 3-4 week pre sale, they would be vaccinated for pneumonia and IBR( if farm has it).

These actions would reduce the risk considerably

DBK1 · 30-09-2025 10:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123865807#Comment_123865807

I only had this conversation with a suckler farmer I was baling for last week when I was admiring his stock and he told me they were all weaned and ready for sale so long as his herd test was clear. His exact phrasing when it came to the chat about lads that don’t properly wean was “it’s a scummy thing to do and you’d get no luck for it” and it’s hard to disagree with that.

There’s enough of money being got for weanlings nowadays that if a suckler farmer’s not fit to wean his calves properly before sale then maybe suckler farming isn’t the job for them.

I asked him if he noticed much difference in the prices he gets and he said no, and that it’s a lot of the same lads buy his stock every year and some of them have told him that they watch for his coming through the mart because they know they’ll be properly done and will power on from the minute they get them home and they’re happy to pay a bit more for that.

The next day he rang me to tell me he had a cow go down with tb and a few inconclusives so obviously he can’t sell the weanlings now. It’s hard luck on him but at least having them weaned means he has the hard part already done now when having to keep them.

Albert Johnson · 30-09-2025 10:36PM

Any exporters mentioned in the article or just a consensus that there not going to buy the weanlings? I can't read the article behind the paywall and only seen the headline

893bet · 30-09-2025 10:51PM

The must be short weanlings and looking to flush them out faster 😀

green daries · 01-10-2025 06:53AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123866072#Comment_123866072

DDefinitely 👍🤣🤣low life's is what they are they have no problem with screwing the farmer when they get a chance

Who2 · 01-10-2025 09:25AM

it’s a bit childish to say they’ll have no luck for it or it’s scummy. The truth is until there is a premium paid for in weaned calves people will keep doing it.

DBK1 · 01-10-2025 09:53AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123866666#Comment_123866666

How is it childish? Bear in mind that statement came from a suckler farmer, not someone buying the weanlings and if he’s able to do the job right why are you not fit to do that? To be honest it’s absolutely spot on. It shows a complete disrespect for the people buying the weanlings, its poor farming practice and a very selfish way of doing it by people that aren’t fit to be suckler farming.

If anything the only childish thing in the whole scenario is the farmer rearing the weanling isn’t mature enough to think of anyone only themselves.

bogman_bass · 01-10-2025 09:59AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123865998#Comment_123865998

that’s kinda my point. Exporters set the bar with prices and if they actually rewarded farmers for weening they would be better off

Who2 · 01-10-2025 10:15AM

I look after my own pocket and vast majority of my weanlings have been exported for the last number of years. Mainly the same two buyers. They are dosed regularly and vaccinated accordingly, meal fed from June or July on and I push on to have them looking as good as is feasibly possible. I won’t be weaning calves unless I am going to get paid extra. It’s nothing personal but it’s the hard reality out there.

If most people were honest about it they are doing the exact same only it’s easier to say they are doing everything 100% by the book and feel morally better posting it up on boards.

Bass Reeves · 01-10-2025 10:16AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123866786#Comment_123866786

It probably hard for exsporters to do that. Generally it's farmers buyers that push them hardest most ofvthem buy want a shiny calf with puppy fat on him.

However suckler farmers shoild still vaccinated, dose and feed meal. I hate this vaccinated and on meal at marts. If vaccinated is announced what vaccine used should be announced.....RSV, IBR, Blackleg.

As well I cannot understand any farmer not feeding weanlings 3kgs pre sale for 6 weeks. They will do an extra 5-600 grams a day 20-25 kgs LW gain. At present the extra value could be 100-150 euro.

3kgs @370/ ton is 46 euro. Mind you it's half the reason weaned calves go back. If they are eating plenty of meal at weaning it's easy keep them going.

GNWoodd · 01-10-2025 11:04AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123866666#Comment_123866666

How much of a premium do you want ? Are you for real ?
I was watching yesterdays sale in Ennis and bull calves selling for 2,000 plus . That’s two thirds of the price of a factory bullock. The next man has to keep him for an additional 20 months with all the risk and feed costs that entails .
But you won’t do the decent thing and separate him from the cow for a week or two .

Who2 · 01-10-2025 11:26AM

I do what makes me the most and at the end of the day the next lad isn’t too worried about how much I make nor did for years. 20 months is a bit much too . Most that do stay in this country are hanging well before 16 months.
heifers are over wintered here a lot of the time and sold next March usually ( not always ). They are weaned if it keeps everyone happy.

GNWoodd · 01-10-2025 11:41AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123867100#Comment_123867100

Genuine question - Are you not happy with the price that you are getting for the calves ? At the moment you are being paid top money for animals that are at an age that they are most susceptible to disease .

What ever makes the farmer the most money justifies everything in your head . Do you want another RTE expose on animal welfare ?

grass10 · 01-10-2025 11:50AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123866268#Comment_123866268

The exporters are not doing farmers if you had no live exporters what would calves and weanlings be making, its them that are driving on the young cattle price every year

Albert Johnson · 01-10-2025 11:57AM

This area would be a suckler heartland and I'd say it would be easy to count all the weanlings that would be actually weaned pre sale in any local mart. Maybe it's just the area I'm in but most of the weanlings would only be tagged and tb tested as regards work done with then after calving which is a bigger potential health issue imo.

If you were weaning you're calves this time of year and expecting to sell them before Xmas then you'd have to be creep feeding them pre weaning or they'd fail once taken off the cows. A lot of lads like to buy a soft well done weanling with nice hair and a "bloom" on him. It would take a few weeks to get over the setback of weaning and it's another job that would need doing.

I read the free Agriland article about the supposed boycott by exporters and there's no mention of weaning in it. It's focused on health treatments or more the lack of pre sale namely that they be,

Vaccinated against bovine respiratory disease (BRD);

Treated for worms (where necessary);

Treated for fluke (where necessary).

A lot of lads I'd know would do very little with a weanling as regards health treatment bar they'd an actual illness while on the cow. Weaning usually takes place on the day of sale and very little attention would be paid to preparing the calves for sale, there'd be odd bits of creep feeding but that would be about the height of it in most cases.

I can see where the exporters are coming from to be fair. Buying unweaned calves that probably have a high worm burden and are subject to the stress of weaning, the mart, transportation and being mixed with other cattle in a similar position is a health disaster waiting to happen. With the price of weanlings atm it would be hard to argue that there isn't room to make a greater emphasis and financial outlay on the likes of health treatments.

Who2 · 01-10-2025 12:02PM

I’m happy this year with weanlings but why would I set my calves back a couple of weeks to feel morally better. Mallon bought an awful lot of mine last year. Do you really think I’m worried about him or he gives two f’s about me?

green daries · 01-10-2025 12:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123867171#Comment_123867171

They are best of luck to them.....but don't try tell me that they haven't and wont again do farmers as hard as they can ......cos they have and will again ...... they couldn't give to shites about farmers

Dozer1 · 01-10-2025 01:19PM

anytime I ever weaned em and did them right I got the same price or less that the lad with the calf bawling and not even dehorned…give me a break.

I present them in as healthy, dosed and vaccinated condition as I can, I've taken all the risk to get them to that sale stage that's more than enough.

DBK1 · 01-10-2025 01:25PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123866844#Comment_123866844

The fact that there’s no suckler farmer posting about doing everything 100% right on boards probably makes that a moot argument.

Out of interest what would you call being paid extra? If you’re getting €2k for weanlings which a lot of lads are and more, then how much extra do you think you need to justify weaning?

Sugarbowl · 01-10-2025 02:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123867472#Comment_123867472

Ah now, to be fair, there are a lot of people doing it for years around here. My father has always done it and I do it now. Even for the day we got brutal money we were weaning and meal feeding. Long before any beef welfare scheme and money to meal feed them. As someone said above, any one that knows their stuff can pick out a weaned calf in the mart ring. Mine will be weaned again this year and hopefully a better price for our work.

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