Almost 330 cattle were sold in total at Balla Mart on Saturday, with 180 heifers and more than 150 bullocks going through two sales rings. There was a good number of cattle sold on the box, with a flurry of online bidders throughout the day – especially for quality breeding heifers.

Bullocks weighing between 350kg and 400kg averaged €2.27/kg, with the top third of cattle in terms of quality fetching €2.55/kg and over in select cases. In the 400kg to 500kg weight range, bullocks made €2.18/kg on average, with the top third of animals selling for €2.41/kg.

This 325kg Limousin bullock made €880 (€2.70/kg).

Steers from 500kg to 600kg made €2.01/kg on average. Better-quality continental lots made €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg, while plainer types typically moved at €1.75/kg to €1.90/kg.

This 620kg August 2018-born bullock sold for €1,320 (€2.12/kg).

Heifers

In the heifer ring, those weighing from 350kg to 400kg averaged €2.28/kg, while those weighing 400kg to 500kg were not far behind at €2.22/kg. Better-quality heifers had no problem reaching €2.50/kg to €2.60/kg, with a top price of €2.76/kg paid for a 13-month-old 370kg Limousin heifer (€1,020).

This 325kg Angus heifer sold for €760 (€2.33/kg).

This 26-month-old 420kg heifer sold for €1,110 (€2.64/kg).

Heifers weighing from 500kg to 600kg averaged €2.15/kg, with top-quality lots making €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg on several occasions. Heifers over 600kg made €1.99/kg on average, with a top price of €2.17/kg paid for a 600kg 27-month-old Limousin cross (€1,300).

This 480kg Limousin heifer sold for €1,100 (€2.29/kg).