Camera at the Mart: huge demand for heifers at Mohill’s Monaghan day sale

It may appear strange to host a Monaghan day sale in a Leitrim mart, but the sales have established a firm place in the diary of buyers each year.

Five distinct sales are held across the month of February, with special days dedicated to bullocks, heifers, bull weanlings, heifer weanlings and cows, with the focus being on top-end continental cattle suited to finishers, factory agents, farmers and feeders seeking out these high-grading cattle.

Mart manager Daragh Barden noted: “There was huge farmer activity present for lighter heifers, with feedlot buyers securing most of the stronger lots.”

Limousin and Charolais-cross heifers dominated the intake, with a total of 231 heifer weanlings passing through the ring, with 226 of these selling to give an overall clearance of 98%.

Some 60% of the heifers on offer sat in the 300kg to 400kg bracket, with a mix of buyers active for these types.

Premium

Most heifers were born between March and May of 2025, with U grading types with potential for feeding or breeding commanding a premium.

Average price in this weight category was an impressive €5.44/kg, with top-end heifers averaging €6.10/kg.

The bottom third of heifers quality-wise were still high-value lots, averaging €4.78/kg.

At a weight of 350kg, this left the average heifer sitting at a respectable price of €1,904/head.

Thirty heifers weighing 200kg to 300kg averaged 21c/kg more at €5.65/kg, with more farmer activity for these lots.

The top third of heifers price-wise averaged €6.51/kg, with the bottom third still commanding a strong price, averaging €4.86/kg.

A share of heavier heifers weanlings and over age (over 12 months old) heifers were also on offer and while these expectedly sold to a lower price per kilo than their lighter counterparts, trade was still extremely strong for these, with more feeder activity present for these types.

Weanling heifers from 400kg to 450kg averaged €5.05/kg, with the top and bottom third of cattle price wise 60c to 65c/kg above and below this on average.

A small show of over 450kg heifer weanlings averaged €4.50/kg, while a small number of over-12-month-old heifers weighing 350kg to 400kg averaged €5.20/kg.

Stronger over-age heifers sitting between 400kg and 500kg averaged a solid price of €5.05/kg, with some breeding-type heifers suited for serving this spring included.

The top third of heifers in this 400kg to 500kg category sold to an average of €5.73/kg, with the bottom third averaging €4.48/kg.