Ballymote Mart’s special heifer sale on Thursday last saw keen demand from buyers for heifers meeting certain specifications.
Continental heifers grading R+ or better with good weight for age saw the keenest demand from buyers, though well-fleshed Angus lots fit for immediate slaughter also saw buyers actively competing against each other.
As has been the trend in some marts of late, out-of-age heifers (over 30 months old) and especially those lacking full flesh were penalised on price per kilo.
A mix of factory agents and farmer buyers were active, with qualities of heifers to suit all.
Store heifers and forward stores were most common in numbers, with some breeding-type heifers also available.
Sharp demand
Roughly 60 weanling heifers met with sharp farmer demand. Heifers from 200kg to 300kg averaged €5,22/kg, with lots from 300kg to 400kg achieving a strong average of €5.43/kg, with the top third of this weight selling for €6.30/kg.
Heifers in the 400kg to 500kg bracket averaged €4.46/kg. The bottom end of heifers of this weight were mainly light Angus and Hereford types, selling from €3.60/kg to €4.10/kg in the main.
Top-quality heifers sold from €4.40/kg to €5.10/kg in the main, with several choice lots breaching this and selling to highs of €5.96/kg.
Average price in the 500kg to 600kg bracket equated to €4.48/kg, with the bottom third of heifers quality-wise selling below the €4/kg mark, with the top third of heifers selling to an average of €5.08/kg.
Again, the lower end of stock were primarily dairy-beef, with some poorer-grading continentals in the mix.
A nice show of heavy heifers met with keen demand, with factory agents particularly keen for in-spec heifers.
Average price of this weight was a strong €4.41/kg, with the top third selling for €4.92/kg, while the bottom third traded bang on €4/kg. Top price in the sale was a pedigree Charolais heifer born in September 2023 and weighing 765kg that sold for €3,400 (€5.20/kg) to an online buyer.
This Limousin-cross heifer born March 2024 and weighing 510kg sold for €2,600 (€5.10/kg)
This Charolais-cross heifer born January 2024 and weighing 560kg sold for €2,920 (€5.21/kg).
This Simmental -cross heifer born May 2024 and weighing 490kg sold for €2,000 (€4.08/kg).
This Angus-cross heifer born March 2024 and weighing 600kg sold for €2,400 (€4/kg).
This Limousin-cross heifer born April 2024 and weighing 530kg sold for €2,300 (€4.34/kg).
This Limousin-cross heifer born March 2024 and weighing 580kg sold for €2,940 (€5.07/kg).
This Charolais-cross heifer born April 2023 and weighing 645kg sold for €2,840 (€4.40/kg).
This Angus-cross heifer born April 2024 and weighing 450kg sold for €1,640 (€3.64/kg).
This Limousin-cross heifer born April 2023 and weighing 600kg sold for €2,640 (€4.40/kg).
This Charolais-cross heifer born September 2023 and weighing 655kg sold for €3,280 (€5.01/kg).
These two Angus-cross heifers born February 2024 and weighing 560kg sold for €2,300 (€4.11/kg).
Ballymote Mart’s special heifer sale on Thursday last saw keen demand from buyers for heifers meeting certain specifications.
Continental heifers grading R+ or better with good weight for age saw the keenest demand from buyers, though well-fleshed Angus lots fit for immediate slaughter also saw buyers actively competing against each other.
As has been the trend in some marts of late, out-of-age heifers (over 30 months old) and especially those lacking full flesh were penalised on price per kilo.
A mix of factory agents and farmer buyers were active, with qualities of heifers to suit all.
Store heifers and forward stores were most common in numbers, with some breeding-type heifers also available.
Sharp demand
Roughly 60 weanling heifers met with sharp farmer demand. Heifers from 200kg to 300kg averaged €5,22/kg, with lots from 300kg to 400kg achieving a strong average of €5.43/kg, with the top third of this weight selling for €6.30/kg.
Heifers in the 400kg to 500kg bracket averaged €4.46/kg. The bottom end of heifers of this weight were mainly light Angus and Hereford types, selling from €3.60/kg to €4.10/kg in the main.
Top-quality heifers sold from €4.40/kg to €5.10/kg in the main, with several choice lots breaching this and selling to highs of €5.96/kg.
Average price in the 500kg to 600kg bracket equated to €4.48/kg, with the bottom third of heifers quality-wise selling below the €4/kg mark, with the top third of heifers selling to an average of €5.08/kg.
Again, the lower end of stock were primarily dairy-beef, with some poorer-grading continentals in the mix.
A nice show of heavy heifers met with keen demand, with factory agents particularly keen for in-spec heifers.
Average price of this weight was a strong €4.41/kg, with the top third selling for €4.92/kg, while the bottom third traded bang on €4/kg. Top price in the sale was a pedigree Charolais heifer born in September 2023 and weighing 765kg that sold for €3,400 (€5.20/kg) to an online buyer.
This Limousin-cross heifer born March 2024 and weighing 510kg sold for €2,600 (€5.10/kg)
This Charolais-cross heifer born January 2024 and weighing 560kg sold for €2,920 (€5.21/kg).
This Simmental -cross heifer born May 2024 and weighing 490kg sold for €2,000 (€4.08/kg).
This Angus-cross heifer born March 2024 and weighing 600kg sold for €2,400 (€4/kg).
This Limousin-cross heifer born April 2024 and weighing 530kg sold for €2,300 (€4.34/kg).
This Limousin-cross heifer born March 2024 and weighing 580kg sold for €2,940 (€5.07/kg).
This Charolais-cross heifer born April 2023 and weighing 645kg sold for €2,840 (€4.40/kg).
This Angus-cross heifer born April 2024 and weighing 450kg sold for €1,640 (€3.64/kg).
This Limousin-cross heifer born April 2023 and weighing 600kg sold for €2,640 (€4.40/kg).
This Charolais-cross heifer born September 2023 and weighing 655kg sold for €3,280 (€5.01/kg).
These two Angus-cross heifers born February 2024 and weighing 560kg sold for €2,300 (€4.11/kg).
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