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Like previous weeks, demand at Balla Mart was best for all good-quality cattle, but there were not too many plainer types in the sale.
The bullock ring saw another fairly steady trade, with continued good demand for good-quality heavy bullocks and stores.
Bullocks over 600kg sold for about twice their weight for average-quality types. Plainer types made from €1.75/kg to €1.85/kg, but there were few available.
This 720kg Angus cross bullock born March 2015 sold for €1,355 (€1.88/kg).
This 515kg Charolais cross bullock born April 2016 sold for €1,170 (€2.27/kg).
This 300kg Charolais cross bullock born December 2016 sold for €815 (€2.72/kg).
The better-quality U grades sold mainly from €700 to €780 over. Store bullocks from 500kg to 600kg were a solid trade on last week.
The average 550kg steer sold mainly from €600 to €700 over the weight, with U grades making over €800 along with the weight.
Stores from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.35/kg, with most better-quality 450kg to 500kg types selling for €1,050 to €1,150.
Heifers
The heifer ring was similar to last week; there was good farmer and agent demand for most cattle on offer.
Clearance rates were good, but plainer cattle continue to be a slower sell. Some better-quality heifers were a touch better than last week.
This 495kg Hereford cross heifer born June 2015 sold for €990 (€2.00/kg).
This 275kg Charolais cross five-star heifer born May 2017 sold for €660 (€2.40/kg).
This 275kg Charolais cross five-star heifer born April 2017 sold for €750 (€2.73/kg).
Heifers over 600kg were the best trade, but numbers on offer were low. Good-quality types sold from €1,200 to €1,400 per head.
Those from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg for average-quality types, with top-quality U grades making form €650 to €750 over and some top-quality types making over €800 along with the weight.
Types from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg for average-quality types and from €2.40/kg to €2.55/kg or from €600 to €720 over the weight for better-quality types.
This 945kg Charolais cross cow born August 2013 sold for €1,825 (€1.93/kg).
Cows
The cow ring saw another good trade for all good-quality fleshed cows. There were plenty of buyers for these and prices ranged from €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg for fleshed cows, with top-quality types and cow-heifers selling to well over €2.10/kg.
Store cows were a solid trade also. Younger cows were met with stronger demand, with older cows achieving slightly lower clearance rates.
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