Saturday's sale at Balla Mart saw a good entry of stock for the first sale of the year.
Mart manager Michael Murphy said numbers were twice as big as the same sale last year, with about 400 on offer. The trade was quite good once again, with lots of buyers on hand for all types.
Although prices before Christmas were a touch higher for some cattle, compared with the same sale last year, prices at the sale were up about €30/head.
Store bullocks from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg, with top prices rising to almost €800 over.
Those over 500kg sold at a similar level as before Christmas, with prices averaging close to €2.25/kg or €1,150/head to €1,350/head.
The top bullock was a 730kg Charolais that sold for €1,720 or €990 over the weight.
Heifers
The heifer sale saw about 150 on offer. Weanling heifers under 400kg sold mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.50/kg, with better-quality types making well over €3.00/kg.
The top-priced heifer under 400kg was a 305kg Blonde d’Aquitaine cross heifer which made €1,000.
This Charolais cross heifer born October 2016 and weighing 390kg sold for €870 (€2.23/kg).
This Charolais cross heifer born March 2017 and weighing 290kg sold for €650 (€2.24/kg).
Store heifers from 400kg to 500kg were a good trade once again, with prices ranging mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg for average-quality types. Better-quality types made from €2.40/kg to €2.60/kg.
This Limousin heifer born June 2016 and weighing 350kg sold for €760 (€2.17/kg).
Heifers from 500kg to 600kg were not available in very large numbers, but those that did pass through the ring were met with strong demand. Prices for these averaged from €2.25/kg to €2.35/kg for average-quality types, and up to €2.70/kg or €1,605 at the top of the market for a Charolais heifer weighing 595kg.
This Limousin heifer born May 2017 and weighing 295kg sold for €900 (€3.05/kg).
This Limousin heifer born July 2017 and weighing 240kg sold for €650 (€2.71/kg).
Cows
The cull cow section saw about 110 cows on offer with most selling from €1.70/kg to €1.80/kg.
Young cow heifers and top-quality fleshed cows still sold from €1.90/kg to €2.00/kg.
This Limousin cow, five and a half months in-calf to a Limousin bull, sold for €1,160.
This Limousin cross cow, eight months in-calf to a pedigree Limousin bull, sold for €1,190.
There was a share of in-calf cows on offer which sold to a top prices of €1,500/head, while other lighter and plainer in-calf cows sold mainly from €1,100 to €1,200.
This Limousin cull cow born 2011 and weighing 680kg sold for €1,100 (€1.62/kg).
This Limousin cull cow born 2006 and weighing 700kg sold for €1,355 (€1.94/kg).
This Belgian Blue cull cow born 2010 and weighing 640kg sold for €1,070 (€1.67/kg).
This Simmental cull cow born 2008 and weighing 680kg sold for €1,080 (€1.59/kg).
This Limousin cull cow born 2012 and weighing 630kg sold for €1,220 (€1.94/kg).
A good start to the new year at Dowra
Calf numbers low but trade strong so far