Good trade continues for weanlings at Mayo mart

THE weanling sale at Balla Mart yesterday saw continued good trade for anything nice.

There was a lot of lighter/handier slips down in the weights that suited farmers for feeding.

Numbers were well up on this time last year with 140 more weanlings sold. Other than a few calves it was nearly a full clearance.

Trade for quality bulls were very lively, with prices dearer than last week, pushed on by strong export demand. Even the lesser calves were selling well.

Bulls 200kg to 350kg averaged €3.43/kg, with the tops making over €4/kg - all bought by exporters.

Weanlings 350kg to 450kg averaged €3.36/kg, while heavier bulls 450kg averaged €2.98/kg, the best of them all bought by exporters for prices in or around €3/kg.

A cracking BBX bull born March ‘24 and weighing 370kg made €1,680 (€4.54/kg) for a farmer from Charlestown who usually has some great cattle.

Another BBX bull weighing 400kg made €1,710 for a farmer from Aughamore.

There was a fine selection of heifers on offer suitable for farmers who were really anxious for stock. Prices in the heifers were not slacking, as can be witnessed by the averages and examples below, especially for nice shapely coloured lots - buyers were on them straight away.

And they got great prices. Most heifers around 300kg were making over €1,100. In fact, heifers were selling at better price than the bulls.

Lighter store heifers 200kg to 350kg averaged €3.53/kg, while heifers 350kg to 450kg averaged €4.01/kg.

A smashing LMX year old heifer born November ’23, weighing 410kg, made €2,450 (€5.98/kg) for a farmer from Belmullet. Another five-month-old BBX heifer, born June ’24 and weighing just 225kg, made €1,900 (€8.44/kg) for a farmer from Belcarra.

Booking is this Thursday for next Tuesday's (November 19) weanling sale on 0818 301 401.

Following that there will be one Tuesday weanling sale left on November 26, when everything should revert to the Saturday.

SPECIAL FRIDAY SALE

Walter Brennan's 17th annual sale of 50 Continental X in-calf heifers takes place at Balla Mart on Friday evening, November 15, at 7 p.m. Scanned in-calf to AI Limousin and proven Limousin stock bull, calving December to March.

This sale includes 4 and 5 star heifers. For further information, contact Walter at (086) 8185612 and Balla Mart on (094) 9365068.