Over the last few weeks, the regional Simmental clubs held their annual breeding heifer sales around the country. The Western Club staged its sale in Ballymote where there were 200 heifers on offer. A buoyant demand for in-calf heifers saw top quality lots making between €2,500 & €3,400.

Most of these top-end heifers were purchased by repeat customers. The strongest demand was for heifers either close to calving and for those springing down.

In the maiden section, a top price of €1,950 was given for a 620kg heifer with a price range between €1,000 and €1,950. Over €3/kg was freely available for choice heifers. Younger heifers topped the trade, with €2,220 given for a 475kg 13-month-old heifer.

A number of these exceptional-type weanlings made up to €4/kg. The clearance rate was 78%.

At the southeast club sale in Tullamore, a weaker in-calf section saw heifers topping €1,980 and averaging €1,800. The trade for maiden and weanling heifers was exceptionally strong, with close to a total clearance recorded and a top of €1,700 paid for a 510kg heifer. Over €3/kg was available for heifers that had the potential to make a nice suckler dam. Just over 90% of the 122 heifers on offer were sold.

Finally at the South Western Club Sale in Gort, in-calf heifers topped €2,400 with 10 making over €2,000. A 505-kg maiden heifer sold for €1,820 (€3.60/kg) with an average price of €1,275 for maiden heifers.

Weanling heifers averaged €1,030 with a top price of €1,400 for a 390kg heifer. Over 90% of the 144 heifers on offer were sold.

The final Simmental event of the year is the autumn premier show and sale in Roscommon this Saturday 7 November where 54 bulls and 107 heifers are catalogued for sale.