A large crowd of farmers gathered around the ring at Ballinrobe Mart on Wednesday, June 13. The trade was brisk from start to finish, as farmers competed with one another for stock.
The mart manager Tom Jordan explained that numbers were back on the previous week’s sale due to a combination of factors.
He said: “We had smaller numbers on the back of the recent fine weather and, generally speaking, sales at this time of the year are small by nature.
“Dry cows are still a good trade and this was evident with the high clearance rate we achieved; cows weighing north of 700kg are the best trade, while cows in the 500-600kg bracket are not as dear.”
Continuing, he said: “Store-type cattle are still in demand as finishers are replacing animals recently slaughtered in the factories.”
Some 146 animals were on offer and a good clearance rate was achieved.
Heifers
65 heifers went under the hammer at the Mayo-based venue. Quality lots were snapped up, while plainer, lighter types proved a more difficult trade.
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 hammer price.
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- This 280kg, October-2017 born, Charolais heifer sold for €835 or €2.98/kg
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- This 340kg, March-2017 born, Limousin heifer made €840 or €2.47/kg
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- This 325kg, 5-star, May-2017 born, Limousin heifer made €880 or €2.70/kg
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- These 462kg, February and March-2017 born, Aberdeen Angus heifers sold for €1,000 or €2.16/kg
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- This 315kg, 4-star, September-2016 born, Limousin heifer sold for €845 or €2.68/kg
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- This 460kg, December-2016 born, Aberdeen Angus heifer sold for €985 or €2.14/kg
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- These 317kg, May and October-2017 born, Limousin heifers made €875 or €2.76/kg
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- This 525kg, April-2016 born, Charolais heifer sold for €1,245 or €2.37/kg
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- This 345kg, June-2017 born, Limousin heifer made €765 or €2.21/kg
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- This 395kg, May-2017 born, Charolais heifer sold for €950 or €2.40/kg
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- These 305kg, April and June-2017 born, Limousin heifers sold for €830 or €2.72/kg
Weanling bulls
On the day, 16 weanling bulls and four stock bulls were on offer. The heavier weanling lots proved popular among buyers; the stocks bulls traded for €860-1,300/head.
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- These 300kg, July-2017 born, Aberdeen Angus bulls made €680 or €2.26/kg
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- This 340kg, May-2017 born, Aberdeen Angus bull sold for €825 or €2.42/kg
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- This 350kg, May-2017 born, Limousin bull sold for €790 or €2.25/kg
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- This 445kg, September-2017 born, Aberdeen Angus bull made €1,215 or €2.28/kg
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- This 365kg, April-2017 born, Limousin bull sold for €940 or €2.57/kg
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- This 350kg, September-2017 born, Limousin bull made €1,015 or €2.90/kg
Bullocks
Some 23 bullocks passed through the ring on the day. Again, quality lots were in demand, while plainer animals – particularly lots with dairy influence – met a more difficult trade.
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- This 305kg, October-2017 born, Simmental bullock made €790 or €2.59/kg
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- This 545kg, February-2016 born, Aberdeen Angus made €1,100 or €2.01/kg
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- This 380kg, March-2016 born, Limousin bullock sold for €860 or €2.26/kg
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- This 710kg, February-2016 born, Hereford bullock sold for €1,465 or €2.06/kg
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- This 320kg, May-2016 born, Limousin bullock made €650 or €2.03/kg
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- This 420kg, April-2017 born, Limousin bullock sold for €1,025 or €2.44/kg
Cows
Furthermore, 29 dry cows and 13 springers also went under the hammer. The top price in the dry cow category went to a Charolais cow weighing 790kg; she sold for €1,675 or €2.12/kg.
Moreover, a Limousin cow and her Stabiliser bull calf made €1,675 (pictured below).
