Trade steady at Balla Mart, but buyers remain very active

There was another large sale of bulls, heifers, stores, culls and in-calf cows at Balla Mart on Saturday. The ringsides were packed with farmers gauging the trade or selling stock, while others were actively buying cattle.

The overall trade was steady on last week. Farmers and agents continue to be keen on grass cattle, while factory agents and finishers were snapping up short-keep and slaughter-fit types.

Cows

There were more than 50 in-calf cows on offer also, but the trade for these was mixed. Young good-quality in-calf cows were a steady trade, but farmer activity for plainer and older types of in-calf cows was noticeably back on other weeks. This may have been primarily driven by the volume on offer.

The best farmer demand on the day was for young calved cows, with these making from €1,200 to just shy of €2,000 for a Limousin.

The trade for cull cows was firm, with strong numbers on offer. Buyers were most active for younger feeding cows and short-keep cows that were carrying flesh.

Continental feeding cows sold mainly from €350 to €450 along with the weight; similar to prices paid last week.

Better-quality types suitable for slaughter made from €500 to €600 over the weight mainly. On a price per kg basis, the average feeding cow made from €1.50/kg to €1.70/kg, with fleshed cows selling from €1.80/kg to €2/kg.

Stores

The store trade was strong. Bullocks were a good trade, with forward types over 600kg selling mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg.

Store bullocks from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €600 to €750 along with the weight.

The average 450kg bullock sold from €1,000 to €1,100, with very fancy types making over €1,250.

Weanlings

Fancy Charolais and Limousin weanlings over 350kg made from €900 to €1,000, while average-quality types from 300kg to 400kg sold mainly from €750 to €900. Top-quality U grade bulls made over €650 along with the weight.

The heifer trade continued to be strong again this week, with the ring full of farmers.

There were more onlookers than buyers, but never the the trade was firm. Heifers over 500kg sold mainly from €1,100 to €1,200, with top-quality heavy types selling from €1,300 to €1,450.

There was a little bit less activity for heavy average heifers, with prices struggling to beat the €2/kg mark.

This Limousin cross heifer, born September 2014 and weighing 610kg, sold for €1,245 (€2.04/kg).

Where good-quality factory-fit or short-keep types were on offer, demand was very strong.

Stores from 400kg to 500kg were in abundance and sold mainly from €1,000 to €1,125.

Weanling heifers from 300kg to 400kg sold mainly from €750 to €1,000, with a number of good heifers from 300kg to 350kg easily making €900 to €950.

At Headford Mart there was a good entry of cattle on offer.

Bullocks made from €220 to €715 over the weight, with the top bullock, a 545kg Charolais, making €1,260. Heifers made from €300 to €720 over the weight and top prices were in line with the equivalent bullock.

Weanling heifers made from €255 to €610 over the weight, with top-quality weanling heifers selling for over €1,000. Weanling bulls made from €215 to €670 over the weight. A top-quality Angus weanling bull weighing 255kg made €925.

Cull cows made from €700 to €1,240, breeding bulls made up to €2,060 and suckler cows made from €1,000 to €1,560.

Cull ewes made from €65 to €120, lambs made from €94 to €104 and in-lamb ewes made up to €148.

Saturday saw the Monaghan day bullock sale take place at Mohill Mart.

There was a very large entry of bullocks on offer, which met a brisk trade.

For heavy types there was plenty of factory agent activity, while feeding cattle were snapped up by finishers from the Northern Ireland border counties and the midlands.