Mayo mart reports big numbers and record price

A show calf with a Friesian foster cow saw a record price at Balla Mart on Saturday.

There was a lot of stock coming out this week and the sale was full, as cattle come out a month earlier due to the damage done to land by the bad weather.

Things worked out, with over 1,000 head sold. Usually when there’s so many cattle coming out prices are affected due to supply and demand but there were plenty buyers around the ring and online and prices were strong enough, except maybe for some plainer older cattle.

Bullocks 300kg to 400kg averaged €2.87/kg, store bullocks 400kg to 500kg averaged €3.11/kg, while heavier bullocks 500kg averaged €2.81/kg.

One heavy 675kg LMX bullock born May ’22 made €2,160 (€3.20/kg).

A lighter CHX store weighing 415kg made €1,690 (€4.07/kg) for a farmer from Mayo Abbey.

Heifer prices were similar to last week for stores despite the numbers being so big.

Lighter store heifers 300kg to 400kg averaged €2.83/kg, heifers 400kg to 500kg averaged €2.96/kg, while stock 500kg plus averaged €2.92/kg.

One LMX heifer born January ‘23 and weighing 510kg made €2,080 (€4.08/kg) for a Claremorris farmer, going to a buyer from the North for breeding.

Another LMX heifer weighing 415kg made €1,840 (€4.43/kg) for her Aghamore owner.

There was a good sale of dry cows this week with just over 150 on offer and those 500kg plus averaged €2.52/kg this week. One strong Limousin dry cow, born September ’18 and weighing 920kg, made €2,740 (€2.98/kg), sold by a farmer from Ballina to a factory buyer from the North.

Another lighter LMX weighing 740kg made €2,350 (€3.18/kg) for a Belcarra farmer to different buyer from the North online.

In the springers, there were about 30 lots and one farmer with his Friesian foster cow and Charolais heifer show calf - born May ‘24, sired by Crossmolina Euro (CSQ) and mother Lanzac, out of Pearse McNamee’s Rosie, with champion breeding - made a record price of over €4,000.

There were no bull weanlings this Saturday as they are now being sold on Tuesdays.

Booking is as usual for next Saturday's (September 7) special bullock sale on Wednesday at 9.30 a.m. for the bullocks and heifers, Cows will be booked at 11 a.m. Booking is on Thursday from 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 0818 301 401 for the Tuesday weanling sale on September 10.

Link below for the coming sales of September - weanling show and sale on September 3 plus the special bullock and special breeding heifer sale:

https://youtube.com/shorts/0ZuNzDnB634?si=3uyMEFgoFXzk-3_2.

SHOW/SALES

The opening weanling show and sale takes place at Balla Mart this Tuesday (September 3).

There will be a special bullock sale on Saturday, September 7, following the Saturday after (September 14) with a special breeding heifer sale.