Balla Mart in Co. Mayo hosted its weekly heifer and bullock sale on Saturday, March 9, with the trade described as “a dearer sale than the previous week, with better cattle on offer”.
Balla mart manager Michael Nolan, who stepped into the role in January of this year, said:
“There was a lot of light store bullocks on offer which got good buying from farmers. In the heifer sale, the breeding types made exceptional prices.”
Bullocks at Balla Mart
Nolan said: “In general, prices are sticking well, with average prices in all heifer and bullock weight categories over the €3.00/kg, with the tops of the heifers making over 4.00/kg.”
Bullocks in the 300-400kg weight category averaged €3.11/kg. Store bullocks in the 400-500kg weight category averaged €3.15/kg, and heavier bullocks over 500kg averaged €3.10/kg.
The mart manager said: “Quality heavy bullocks over 600kg were making between €3.07-3.20/kg or up to €1,500/head with the weight.
A Charolais bullock weighing 730kg made €2,240.00 or €3.07/kg, sold by a farmer from Ballycroy, while another Charolais bullock from a Ballyhaunis farmer weighed 655kg and made €2,160.00 or €3.30/kg.
Heifers
The mart manager said that the heifers were “selling well and anything nice got a good price”. There were just over 300 lots of heifers on offer at Balla Mart this week.
Lighter store heifers in the 300-400kg weight category averaged €3.13/kg. Heifers in the 400-500kg averaged €3.12/kg, while heifers weighing over 500kg averaged €3.04/kg.
The mart manager added that “a smashing Belgian Blue breeding heifer with good colour and shape weighing 400kg sold for €2,580 or €6.45/kg”. This heifer was sold by a farmer based in Carrabeg, Kilkelly, Co. Mayo.
There were just over 100 head of dry cows on offer at the Saturday sale in Balla, with an 880kg Limousin dry cow making €2,390 or €2.72/kg.
Meanwhile, in the springer sale, a farmer from Bekan, Co. Mayo, had a Limousin springer scanned in calf to a Limousin bull that sold for €3,160.
Balla Mart hosts a weanling sale every second Tuesday, with a show and sale of continental-bred weanlings taking place on Tuesday, March 26 at 6:00p.m.
The mart venue also hosts a sale of heifers, bullocks and dry cows every Saturday, with three sale rings in action.