Mayo mart hosts special breeding heifer sale

BALLA Mart saw just over 800 lots on offer on Saturday, with a special breeding heifer sale on the day. There was a very lively trade due to the quality of the cattle and also some bigger northern buyers who were very active around the ring and online.

Some super quality heifers did tremendously well - well up on the previous sale - with great demand and some intensive bidding.

Heifers were not alone and the bullocks were also well up as well on previous weeks. The average was up over €550 a head on this sale last year.

There were just over 400 heifers - averaging €100 dearer than the bullocks.

The average for heifers 500kg plus was well up at €4.05/kg due to the exceptional prices paid by buyers of the breeding heifers, with the majority bought online.

Lighter store heifers 300kg to 400kg averaged €3.50/kg, while heifers 400kg to 500kg averaged €3.74/kg.

A smashing LMX heifer weighing 665kg made €5,100 (€7.67/kg), sold by a farmer from Corlough West, Belmullet, that went to a farmer from Ballinasloe.

Another CHX born February ’23 and weighing 705kg made €4,400 (€6.24/kg) for a farmer from Cloghans Hill, Tuam, sold to a Northern buyer. A BBX heifer sired by BB4438 and weighing 630kg made €4,150 (€6.59/kg) for a farmer from Ballaghaderreen, who had great stock.

Bullocks 300kg to 400kg averaged €3.89/kg, store bullocks 400kg to 500kg averaged €3.52/kg, and heavier bullocks 500kg averaged €3.40/kg.

A CHX store bullock born May ’24 and weighing 350kg made €1,540 (€4.40/kg) for a Dunmore farmer, while another CHX, 405kg, made €1,750 (€4.32/kg) for a farmer from Claremorris.

There were around 130 cows on offer this week, with a great clearance and great trade, with cows 500kg plus averaging €2.97/kg and the tops up over €200 on last week.

A seven-year-old 870kg LMX cow made €3,230 (€3.71/kg) for a farmer from Ballymote, with another six-year-old LMX selling for €2,950 for a farmer from Ballina.

In the springers, a farmer from Culleens, Sligo, had a cow with its time up to LM9577 that made €3,020.

There were no weanlings as they will be sold this evening, Tuesday (February 4), and the following Tuesday (11th).