There was a full house at Dowra Mart’s special springer sale this week, where over 70 in-calf heifers were on offer.
The trade was quite brisk, with numerous heifers making over the €2,000 mark.
All heifers were export-tested, with a good number sold to buyers from Northern Ireland.
The bad weather that has hit the northwest over the past few months did not seem to have a major effect on prices.
This Simmental-cross heifer is due to calve on 6 November to a Limousin bull and sold for €2,000.
The rollout of the Basic Payment Scheme meant that some farmers were willing to pay over the odds for springers.
Of the 70 animals on sale, the majority were Simmental, Charolais and Limousin.
Stars light up the sky
All heifers on the night were carrying to five-star Limousin bulls and calving from October to December.
This 2015 four-star heifer, calving on 27 December, sold for €1,800.
Prices varied, with average-quality heifers generally making from €1,200 to €1,500, with quality heifers fetching up to and over the €2,000 mark with relative ease.
The top-priced heifer made a staggering €2,620. This Simmental heifer is five-star and is calving at the end of November.
This four-star March 2015-born Simmental heifer is due to calve on 27 October and sold for €1,840.
John McAnenly from Emyvale, Co Monaghan, had a special entry of over 60 Simmental, Limousin, Charolais and Shorthorn heifers on show, which averaged just over €1,800.
McAnenly told the Irish Farmers Journal: “The exceptional-quality heifers were a good price, but the plainer heifers were harder sold.”
According to McAnenly, star ratings of heifers had a big influence on price, with higher star ratings attracting more interest.
Sample prices from the sale
Mart prices: hit-and-miss trade at breeding heifer sale in Tuam
In pictures: in-calf heifers make up to €1,800 in Balla Mart