The sale saw more than 600 weanling bulls go through the ring, with some top-quality animals on offer.

The trade was strong for good-quality animals, with plainer types harder sold.

The recent wet weather has forced some farmers to house cattle and sell their weanlings earlier than they might have hoped.

In general trade was brisk, with good farmer and exporter activity

Bulls

The overall champion was bred by Robert Moynan from Carrigallen and sold for €1,350. This is the third year in a row that Moynan has won the overall champion prize with one of his weanlings.

Robert Moynan with his first and second prize-winning weanlings.

Bulls with weights ranging from 250kg to 400kg attracted plenty of interest from farmers and exporters.

Prices ranged mainly from €850/head to €1,200/head for good-quality types, or €2.50/kg to €3.00/kg, with a couple of exceptional-quality lots making slightly above the €3/kg mark.

Plainer-type weanlings generally made between €650 and €800.

This 385kg December 2016-born Angus cross bull made €855 (€2.22/kg).

This 310kg May 2017-born Charolais bull sold for €1,030 (€3.32/kg).

Sample bull prices

  • Charolais, born 25 March 2017, 285kg – €780, or €2.73/kg.
  • Charolais, born 12 February 2017, 375kg – €925, or €2.46/kg.
  • Charolais, born 1 April 2017, 440kg – €1,140, or €2.59/kg.
  • Belgian Blue, 15 January 2017, 425kg – €1,220, or €2.87/kg.
  • Limousin, 1 February 2017, 295kg – €750, or €2.54/kg.
  • Limousin, 20 February 2017, 320kg – €800, or €2.50/kg.
  • Angus, 21 December 2016, 385kg – €855, or €2.22/kg.

    • Heifers

    There were just over 70 heifers on show, with the heifer trade not as brisk as the bulls.

    This was mainly due to a lack of buyers around the ring, with most buyers interested in the bull calves.

    Most top-quality heifers sold from €2.60/kg to €3.00/kg, with average-quality types making from €2.20/kg to €2.50/kg.

    Carrigallen Mart has its show and sale of heifer weanlings next Saturday 14 October.

    This April 2017-born Charolais heifer weighed 302kg and sold for €760 (€2.51/kg).

    Sample heifer prices

  • Charolais, born 12 March 2017, 264kg – €720, or €2.72/kg.
  • Charolais, born 28 April 2017, 302kg – €760, or €2.51/kg.
  • Charolais, born 6 May 2017, 220kg – €730, or €3.31/kg.
  • Belgian Blue, born 12 January 2017, 266kg – €740, or €2.78/kg.

    • Read more

    In pictures: all-Ireland champion heifer makes €3,000 in Ballymote

    Mart prices: weather and numbers testing demand for plainer cattle

    Cattle prices: heifers make €3/kg at Headford but plain cattle hard sold