Gortatlea Mart held its first ever suckler show and sale on Thursday evening.

“The good prices for weanlings at the present moment are reflected in the prices received for in-calf heifers and cows,” said mart manager Maurice Brosnan.

“The sale exceeded expectations and top-quality stock were in high demand. You could also see the star rating has become a major focus point for buyers and sellers alike.”

There were just under 100 heifers on offer, with Limousins and Belgian Blues making up almost three-quarters of what was on offer.

Heifers made between €1,480 to €1,620 for continentals, with a few above this price range.

“How is she for stars?” could be heard in some corner of the crowd for most heifers that came into the ring.

Farmers are taking note of the replacement index and it was displayed for four- and five-star heifers.

This March 2015-born heifer, in-calf to a Limousin, made €1,920.

Stock with lower indexes still sold well, particularly the more stylish animals.

The first prize in the continental heifer section went to a January 2015-born Belgian blue heifer in-calf to a Limousin bull and she made €1,920.

The winner of the best non-continental heifer was a Hereford-cross in calf to a Limousin bull. She had a replacement index of €150 and sold for €1,540.

Most other dairy cross in-calf heifers sold for between €1,100 and €1,200.

Cows and calves

There were 23 cows with calves at foot on offer.

The winner of that class was a March 2014-born Limousin cow with a pedigree heifer calf at foot. The cow had a replacement index of €92 and the pair sold for €2,320.

This March 2014 cow, with a replacement index of €92 and an April 2017 heifer calf at foot, sold for €2,320.

Cow and calf pairs sold from €1,000 for dairy crosses up to €1,680 for continental pairs.

This January 2015 heifer, in-calf to a Limousin bull, sold for €1,160.

This February 2015 heifer sold for €1,600.

This February 2015 heifer, in-calf to a Limousin, had a replacement index of €121 and was sold for €1,740.

This April 2015 heifer sold for €1,480.

Sample heifer prices:

All of these heifers were in-calf to a Limousin bull.

One Belgian Blue born January 2015, €1,600.

One Limousin born April 2014, €1,820.

One Limousin born January 2015, replacement index €116, sold for €1,560.

One Hereford born January 2015, replacement index €102, sold for €1,160.

One Belgian Blue born February 2015, replacement index €111, sold for €1,700.