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Nathan Tuffy on 25 Feb 2017

Quality bullocks up by €10 to €20 per head at Balla Mart

A slightly larger entry at Balla Mart was met with improved demand on Saturday. The heifer and cow trade was strong and steady, while the bullock trade was slightly improved.

Nathan Tuffy

25 February 2017

Quality bullocks up by €10 to €20 per head at Balla Mart

This Limousin cross heifer, born May 2015 and weighing 395kg, sold for €945 (€2.39/kg).

This Charolais cross heifer, born October 2015 and weighing 305kg, sold for €790 (€2.59/kg).

This Charolais cross heifer, born Septermber 2015 and weighing 530kg, sold for €1,250 (€2.36/kg).

This Charolais cross heifer, born June 2015 and weighing 390kg, sold for €865 (€2.22/kg).

This Charolais cross four-star heifer, born April 2015 and weighing 600kg, sold for €1,445 (€2.41/kg).

This Limousin cross heifer, born February 2015 and weighing 600kg, sold for €1,420 (€2.37/kg).

This Charolais cross heifer, born January 2015 and weighing 370kg, sold for €900 (€2.43/kg).

This Charolais cross bull, born May 2015 and weighing 350kg, sold for €720 (€2.06/kg).

This pen of four Salers cross weanlings, born March 2016 and weighing 321kg on average, sold for €765 (€2.38/kg).

This Limousin cross bull, born February 2016 and weighing 405kg, sold for €1,045 (€2.58/kg).

This Limousin cross bullock, born June 2015 and weighing 580kg, sold for €1,280 (€2.21/kg).

This Charolais cross bullock, born April 2015 and weighing 505kg, sold for €1,280 (€2.53/kg).

This Belgian Blue cross bullock, born May 2015 and weighing 430kg, sold for €1,030 (€2.40/kg).

This Simmental cross bullock, born June 2015 and weighing 475kg, sold for €1,120 (€2.36/kg).

There was plenty of activity among grass buyers at the ringside, which led to another strong trade, with prices of good-quality bullocks up by €10 to €20 per head. Heifers and weanlings remained a steady trade. The best demand was for forward bullocks and heifers over 600kg, which were a very strong trade. In the bullock ring, forward and underage store bullocks sold from mainly €1,250 to €1,450 per head, with equivalent weight and quality heifers selling at similar prices. U grades suitable for short-keep feeding made the highest prices.

In the bullock ring, forward and underage store bullocks sold from mainly €1,250 to €1,450 per head, with equivalent weight and quality heifers selling at similar prices. U grades suitable for short-keep feeding made the highest prices.

Store bullocks from 500kg to 600kg were a strong trade again this week, with prices ranging mainly from €550 to €750 along with the weight. Most good-quality types made from €1,200 to €1,300 per head. Lighter stores sold mainly from €1,000 to €1,200 per head.

Bulls

Weanling bulls were available in higher numbers, and were met with strong farmer demand. Top-quality U grade bulls over 350kg sold for €900 to €1,000 apiece, with average-quality types from 300kg to 400kg selling mainly from €750 to €900.

Heifers over 500kg sold mainly from €1,100 to €1,250, with top-quality heavy types going for €1,300 to €1,400.

Stores from 400kg to 500kg generally sold from €1,000 to €1,150, with plenty of buyers active for these types.

Weanling heifers from 300kg to 400kg sold mainly from €800 to €1,000, with better-quality types making from €900 to €950.

There was a share of light Angus heifers on offer. These were plain types from the dairy herd that weighed from 170kg to 250kg and sold mainly from €300 to €400 with the weight.

This Charolais cross heifer, born June 2015 and weighing 390kg, sold for €865 (€2.22/kg).

Springers

There was an entry of in-calf cows and heifers again on Saturday. The heifers were generally well-grown and good-quality types, which sold from €1,450 to €1,600.

The trade for cull cows was strong, with good numbers on offer. Buyers again 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. Better-quality types suitable for slaughter made from €500 to €600 over the weight.

Scroll through the gallery at the top of the page to see pictures from Balla Mart.

Improved cattle and sheep prices at Ballymena Mart

Trade steady despite increasing grass buyer demand

Grass buyers stoking cattle prices in recent weeks at Enniscorthy Mart

Fourth extension in two years at Gortatlea Mart