Strong cattle prices at Headford special sale

Despite much debate on whether to hold a sale today or not, Headford Mart manager Joe Wynne was very pleased with his decision.

The special sale saw a very large entry of over 250 head of cattle and 300 sheep on offer.

The quality of cattle at the sale was also very good, which helped the trade.

Wynne said the bullock trade was quite strong, with a larger entry on offer than last week.

Stores

In terms of prices, the majority of forward store bullocks sold from €550 to €700 over the weight, with buyers quite active for all good-quality types.

Lighter stores were a firm trade, with bullocks weighing between 400kg and 450kg making from €950 to €1,100. However, it continued to be difficult to sell plainer cattle, with some farmers opting not to take some of the prices on offer.

Bulls

Demand for weanling bulls was quite strong. Good-quality bulls from 300kg to 400kg sold from €800 to €950, while plainer types made from €700 upwards.

Forward bulls over 400kg were firm, but not exciting, and sold mainly from €950 to €1,000. Light bulls from 200kg to 300kg were a firm trade, with plenty of demand around the ring. Prices ranged mainly from €500 to €700 depending on weight and quality.

Heifers

The heifer trade saw a good entry of 400kg to 500kg heifers on offer. The number of forward and short-keep types was small, but buyers were active for them as long as they would be slaughtered in-spec.

Heifers from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €800 to €1,050.

Good-quality Belgian Blue and Charolais crosses fetched the higher end of the scale, with plainer types making the lower end.

Weanling heifers sold mainly from €500 to €700 for lighter types with better-quality heifers making from €650 to €850. Weanling heifers were a little harder sold than the equivalent bull.

For more on the sale, and more pictures, see next week’s Irish Farmers Journal.

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