Watch: cow-and-calf unit sells for €18,000 in Tuam

There was plenty of fanfare in Tuam Mart, Co Galway, on Friday night, with the hammer falling at €18,000 for a Limousin-cross cow-and-calf unit.

The cow and her eight-month-old heifer calf with a combined weight of 1,324kg were regulars in the show ring during the summer months and among their accolades claimed the Tullamore Show cow and calf champion.

They were offered as part of a special in-calf heifer sale for local farmer Norman Connolly, who farms in Lavally, a short distance outside Tuam.

Plenty of interest

There was barely standing room at the sale of almost 70 lots, while there was also lots of online activity and plenty of viewers keeping watch on the MartBids online sales platform.

The highly conformed heifers were a mixture of Limousin-crosses and Belgian Blue-crosses, with a couple of Charolais-crosses, and averaged just over €6,400 at an average price per kilo of approximately €8/kg.

The heifers displayed size and strength, with heifers averaging in the region of 750kg liveweight at an average age of shy of 33 months of age.

Five heifers sold from €9,400 to €12,800, with another 10 from €7,000 to €8,000.

The general run of prices from 46 more heifers ranged from €5,000 to €6,800.

There was just five heifers below this level, with the lowest price of €4,000 paid for a heifer with poor docility. This left a couple of heifers returning home unsold.

Manager Marion Devane said the sale is reflective of the improvement in optimism in suckling following this year’s higher weanling and beef prices.

The mart will hold its general weekly sale of cattle and evening weanling sale on Monday and are also holding a bank holiday sale of cattle on 27 October.

This first-calved Limousin-cross cow born 01/05/2022 and her eight-month-old Limousin-cross calf with a combined weighing to 1,324kg sold for €18,000. She is due to calve on 07/04/2026 to sexed semen Ardlea Rolex - LM8625.

Weighing 850kg, this January 2023-born Belgian Blue-cross in-calf heifer, which also won lots of shows in 2025, is due to calve on 10/02/2026 to sexed semen Powerful Proper – LM7416 and sold for €12,800.

This 765kg Belgian Blue-Limousin hybrid in-calf heifer was born on 21/02/2023 and due to calve on 16/12/2025 to Elderberry Galahad (EBY) and sold for €10,400.

This roan-coloured Belgian Blue-cross in-calf heifer born 18/10/22 and weighing 845kg sold for €8,000. She is due to calve on 28/11/2025 to sexed semen Powerful Proper – LM7416.

This LM2014-sired in-calf heifer born 19/03/2023 and weighing 720kg sold for €6,800. She is due to calve to Templequain Rover on 06/12/2025.

Weighing 765kg, this black Limousin-cross heifer born 09/03/2023 and due to calve on 20/12/2025 to Templequain Rover sold for €6,500.

This Belgian Blue-cross in-calf heifer weighing 790kg and born 09/05/2022 sold for €6,100. She is due to calve on 20/11/2025 to Tomschoice Scorpion - LM1109.

This Limousin-cross in-calf heifer weighing 790kg and born 26/11/2022 sold for €5,800. She is due to calve on 30/12/2025 to Templequain Rover and is carrying a bull calf.

This 635kg Limousin-cross heifer weighing 635kg and born 23/03/2025 sold for €4,500. She is due to calve on 16/03/2026 to Lisna Sir LM8616.