Ballyjamesduff Mart’s weekly cattle sale took place on Tuesday last (May 15). A mixture of farmers, feedlot buyers and exporters competed for cattle at the mart and the five rings were in action at the Cavan-based venue.
The manager John Tevlin was very happy with the sale and noted that large numbers of cattle are being presented for sale given the time of year.
He said: “We had a yard of 1,057 cattle and all classes are selling well. Dry cows are very much in demand, while the lighter bulls are popular among the exporters. However, farmers are keeping the exporters at bay.
“Beef cattle are becoming scarce, but are very much sought after. Our Northern Irish buyers have been busy sourcing heifers for breeding.”
Weanlings
In the weanling ring, 300 heifers and 140 bulls were on offer. Looking at the heifer prices achieved on the day, these animals sold for €500-1,150/head. Poorer-quality heifers – particularly with dairy influence – realised the lower prices.
Click on a thumbnail in the gallery (below) to open up a full-size image; once opened you can scroll sideways to see the next picture. Refer to each caption to see details of each lot, including the sale price.
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- This 355kg, June-2017 born, Aberdeen Angus heifer sold for €705 or €1.98/kg
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- This 400kg, March-2017 born, Limousin heifer sold for €995 or €2.48/kg
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- This 380kg, March-2017 born, Charolais heifer made €935 or €2.46/kg
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- This 400kg, 5-star, January-2017 born, Limousin heifer made €950 or €2.37/kg
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- This 295kg, June-2017 born, Charolais heifer sold for €620 or €2.10/kg
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- This 300kg, May-2017 born, Limousin heifer made €650 or €2.16/kg
In the bull ring, the trade was sharp from start to finish. Generally speaking, bulls made €500-1,500/head. The top price of €1,500 was achieved by a Charolais bull weighing 540kg.
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- This 460kg, May-2017 born, Limousin bull sold for €1,120 or €2.43/kg
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- This 340kg, August-2017 born, Charolais bull made €1,000 or €2.94/kg
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- This 305kg, September-2017 born, Limousin bull sold for €820 or €2.68/kg
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- This 460kg, March-2017 born, Charolais bull made €1,140 or €2.47/kg
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- This 330kg, September-2017 born, Charolais bull made €1,060 or €3.21/kg
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- This 325kg, April-2017 born, Charolais bull sold for €875 or €2.69/kg
Heifers
In the heifer ring, the trade was brisk for the quality lots on offer and a 100% clearance rate was recorded. Breeding heifers were popular among buyers. On the day, 222 heifers went under the hammer and these lots traded for €480-1,670/head.
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- This 490kg, April-2017 born, Charolais heifer made €1,150 or €2.34/kg
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- This 640kg, March-2016 born, Charolais heifer made €1,670 or €2.60/kg
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- This 475kg, April-2017 born, Limousin heifer sold for €1,175 or €2.47/kg
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- This 485kg, April-2017 born, Charolais heifer made €1,100 or €2.26/kg
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- This 410kg, 4-star, July-2017 born, Hereford heifer sold for €850 or €2.07/kg
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- This 410kg, 5-star, August-2016 born, Limousin heifer sold for €935 or €2.28/kg
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- This 495kg, 4-star, July-2016 born, Limousin heifer made €1,165 or €2.35/kg
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- This 600kg, February-2016 born, Aberdeen Angus heifer sold for €1,190 or €1.98/kg
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- This 420kg, March-2016 born, Charolais heifer sold for €1,000 or €2.38/kg
Bullocks
200 bullocks also went under the hammer; farmers drove the trade, as they sourced good-quality forward cattle. Bullocks sold for €670-1,900/head. The top price of €1,900 was achieved by a Limousin bullock weighing 740kg.
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- This 430kg, February-2017 born, Charolais bullock sold for €1,210 or €2.81/kg
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- These 390kg, March and August-2017 born, Charolais bullocks made €1,160 or €2.97/kg
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- This 610kg, March-2016 born, Limousin steer made €1,610 or €2.63/kg
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- This 525kg, May-2016 born, Belgian Blue bullock sold for €1,490 or €2.83/kg
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- This 740kg, January-2016 born, Limousin bullock sold for €1,900 or €2.56/kg
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- This 460kg, October-2016 born, Charolais steer made €1,160 or €2.52/kg
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- This 700kg, February-2016 born, Hereford bullock made €1,530 or €2.18/kg
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- This 390kg, March-2017 born, Charolais bullock sold for €1,190 or €3.05/kg
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- These 360kg, March and May-2017 born, Charolais bullocks made €1,060 or €2.94/kg
Cows
In the cow ring, dry cows were very much sought after and these lots traded for €425-1,890/head; a 100% clearance rate was recorded. A six-year old Charolais cow achieved the top price of €1,890 on the day.
A number of cows with calves at foot also passed through the ring at the Cavan-based venue. A top price of €2,800 was achieved by a Limousin cow and her twin Limousin bull calves.
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- This 5-star Saler cow and her Aubrac bull calf sold for €1,680. She was in-calf to an Aubrac bull
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- This Aberdeen Angus cow and her Charolais bull calf sold for €1,410. She was in-calf to a Charolais bull
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- This 5-star Aubrac cow and her Aubrac heifer calf made €1,580. She was in-calf to a Charolais bull
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- This 5-star Aubrac cow and her Aubrac heifer calf made €1,530. She was in-calf to a Charolais bull
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- This 5-star, June-2016 born, Aubrac heifer sold for €1,330. She was in-calf to an Aubrac bull
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- This Hereford cow and her Charolais bull calf sold for €1,510. She was in-calf to a Charolais bull
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- This 5-star Simmental cow and her Charolais bull calf made €1,600
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- This 5-star Aubrac cow and her Aubrac bull calf sold for €2,140. She was in-calf to a Charolais bull
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- This Aberdeen Angus cow and her Limousin bull calf sold for €1,470. She was in-calf to a Charolais bull
A special, on-farm, sale of red and black pedigree Angus bulls will take place on Saturday, May 26, in Virginia, Co. Cavan. For more details, contact John Tevlin at: 086 8205371.
A special sale of 30 dairy cows will also take place at the mart on Tuesday next, May 22. A purebred Limousin bull will also be offered.