A bright day at Balla Mart saw another strong trade for all good-quality types. Compared with last year, things are lagging a week or two behind in terms of numbers and demand on account of the poor spring growth.
Saturday’s sale saw an entry of about 500 bullocks, 370 heifers and 80 cows on offer. The ringsides were not as packed on account of the dry day, with many farmers out completing field work.
This Belgian Blue bull, born April 2017 and weighing 350kg sold for €800 (€2.29/kg).
This Belgian Blue bull born April 2017 and weighing 350kg sold for €800 (€2.29/kg).
This Simmental cross bullock, born March 2017 and weighing 445kg sold for €970 (€2.18/kg). This Simmental cross bullock born March 2017 and weighing 445kg sold for €970 (€2.18/kg).
In addition, Monday next will see the first public holiday weanling bull sale take place. There are 450 bulls and 300 heifers booked in.
Saturday’s sale saw a steady trade. Again, beef bullocks and heifers were met with the strongest trade.
Bullocks over 600kg sold mainly from €2.25/kg to €2.35/kg for average-quality types, with better-quality bullocks selling easily from €850 to more than €950 over.
This Limousin cross bullock, born February 2016 and weighing 600kg sold for €1,380 (€2.30/kg). This Limousin cross bullock born February 2016 and weighing 600kg sold for €1,380 (€2.30/kg).
Forward stores were met with good demand also and prices ranged mainly from €650 to €850 along with the weight. Bullocks from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €2.40/kg to €2.55/kg, which was up slightly on last week.
This Limousin cross bullock, born March 2017 and weighing 390kg sold for €980 (€2.51/kg). This Limousin cross bullock, born March 2017 and weighing 390kg sold for €980 (€2.51/kg).
Fancy light U grade stores sold from €2.60/kg to €2.70/kg and higher at times.
Weanling bulls from 300kg to 400kg sold mainly from €800 to €950/head, with top-quality types making over €1,000/head.
Plainer types were a little improved also, and sold from €450 to €500 over the weight.
Heifers
The heifer ring saw steady demand on last week. The majority of those on offer were good-quality continental-bred stock, with few plain cattle on offer.
Heifers over 500kg were met with strong finisher demand once again.
This Charolais cross heifer, born March 2016 and weighing 465kg sold for €1,435 (€3.08/kg). This Charolais cross heifer born March 2016 and weighing 465kg sold for €1,435 (€3.08/kg).
This Charolais cross heifer, born April 2017 and weighing 505kg sold for €1,100 (€2.18/kg). This Charolais cross heifer born April 2017 and weighing 505kg sold for €1,100 (€2.18/kg).
Prices ranged mainly from €2.25/kg to €2.35/kg or from €700 to €800 over the weight, with top-quality U grade heifers making from €820 over and upwards.
Heifers from 400kg to 500kg were a strong trade, with farmers and agents active. They sold mainly from €2.40/kg to €2.50/kg for R grades, similar to last week.
U grades were met with very strong demand at times and sold from €2.60/kg to €2.70/kg. Plain O grade and R grade heifers in the same weight range sold mainly from €550 to €650 along with the weight.
This Charolais cross heifer, born April 2016 and weighing 340kg sold for €960 (€2.82/kg). This Charolais cross heifer born April 2016 and weighing 340kg sold for €960 (€2.82/kg).
This Limousin cross five star heifer, born December 2016 and weighing 425kg sold for €1,160 (€2.73/kg). This Limousin cross five-star heifer born December 2016 and weighing 425kg sold for €1,160 (€2.73/kg).
Weanling heifers under 400kg were a good trade. Again, farmers were the main source of demand. Prices ranged mainly from €2.50/kg to €2.60/kg or from €530 to €650 over the weight. Better-quality U grades sold from €2.70/kg to €3.00/kg or from €600 to €800 over the weight.
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Stark differences in calf prices at Skibbereen
A bright day at Balla Mart saw another strong trade for all good-quality types. Compared with last year, things are lagging a week or two behind in terms of numbers and demand on account of the poor spring growth.
Saturday’s sale saw an entry of about 500 bullocks, 370 heifers and 80 cows on offer. The ringsides were not as packed on account of the dry day, with many farmers out completing field work.
This Belgian Blue bull, born April 2017 and weighing 350kg sold for €800 (€2.29/kg). This Belgian Blue bull born April 2017 and weighing 350kg sold for €800 (€2.29/kg).
This Simmental cross bullock, born March 2017 and weighing 445kg sold for €970 (€2.18/kg). This Simmental cross bullock born March 2017 and weighing 445kg sold for €970 (€2.18/kg).
In addition, Monday next will see the first public holiday weanling bull sale take place. There are 450 bulls and 300 heifers booked in.
Saturday’s sale saw a steady trade. Again, beef bullocks and heifers were met with the strongest trade.
Bullocks over 600kg sold mainly from €2.25/kg to €2.35/kg for average-quality types, with better-quality bullocks selling easily from €850 to more than €950 over.
This Limousin cross bullock, born February 2016 and weighing 600kg sold for €1,380 (€2.30/kg). This Limousin cross bullock born February 2016 and weighing 600kg sold for €1,380 (€2.30/kg).
Forward stores were met with good demand also and prices ranged mainly from €650 to €850 along with the weight. Bullocks from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €2.40/kg to €2.55/kg, which was up slightly on last week.
This Limousin cross bullock, born March 2017 and weighing 390kg sold for €980 (€2.51/kg). This Limousin cross bullock, born March 2017 and weighing 390kg sold for €980 (€2.51/kg).
Fancy light U grade stores sold from €2.60/kg to €2.70/kg and higher at times.
Weanling bulls from 300kg to 400kg sold mainly from €800 to €950/head, with top-quality types making over €1,000/head.
Plainer types were a little improved also, and sold from €450 to €500 over the weight.
Heifers
The heifer ring saw steady demand on last week. The majority of those on offer were good-quality continental-bred stock, with few plain cattle on offer.
Heifers over 500kg were met with strong finisher demand once again.
This Charolais cross heifer, born March 2016 and weighing 465kg sold for €1,435 (€3.08/kg). This Charolais cross heifer born March 2016 and weighing 465kg sold for €1,435 (€3.08/kg).
This Charolais cross heifer, born April 2017 and weighing 505kg sold for €1,100 (€2.18/kg). This Charolais cross heifer born April 2017 and weighing 505kg sold for €1,100 (€2.18/kg).
Prices ranged mainly from €2.25/kg to €2.35/kg or from €700 to €800 over the weight, with top-quality U grade heifers making from €820 over and upwards.
Heifers from 400kg to 500kg were a strong trade, with farmers and agents active. They sold mainly from €2.40/kg to €2.50/kg for R grades, similar to last week.
U grades were met with very strong demand at times and sold from €2.60/kg to €2.70/kg. Plain O grade and R grade heifers in the same weight range sold mainly from €550 to €650 along with the weight.
This Charolais cross heifer, born April 2016 and weighing 340kg sold for €960 (€2.82/kg). This Charolais cross heifer born April 2016 and weighing 340kg sold for €960 (€2.82/kg).
This Limousin cross five star heifer, born December 2016 and weighing 425kg sold for €1,160 (€2.73/kg). This Limousin cross five-star heifer born December 2016 and weighing 425kg sold for €1,160 (€2.73/kg).
Weanling heifers under 400kg were a good trade. Again, farmers were the main source of demand. Prices ranged mainly from €2.50/kg to €2.60/kg or from €530 to €650 over the weight. Better-quality U grades sold from €2.70/kg to €3.00/kg or from €600 to €800 over the weight.
Read more
Stark differences in calf prices at Skibbereen
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