Great Continental stock at Mayo weanling sale

THERE were some great Continental weanlings at yesterday evening's (Tuesday) weanling sale at Balla Mart, with a fine yard of Charolais cattle.

On March 25 the mart will host its show and sale of weanlings, with classes and prizes for the winners.

Every week prices seem to be getting dearer, with fierce competition between all the buyers around the rings and online. Weanlings suitable for export got some touch as trade is export driven at the moment.

There was a near a total clearance last night and a record again with over 1,600 cattle sold this week.

Bulls averaged over €4.20/kg in all weight categories. Bulls 200kg to 350kg averaged €4.39/kg, with the tops making over €5/kg. Bull weanlings 350kg to 450kg averaged €4.47/kg, with heavier bulls 450kg averaging €4.39/kg.

A cracking year old BBX bull weighing 595kg made €3,380, sold by a farmer from Castlerea that went for export.

Examples of prices for bulls included: 325kg LMX €1,760, 350kg BBX €2,240, 375KG BBX €2,300, 425kg BBX €2,560, 475kg BBX €2,920, 595kg LMX €3,380.

Exporters were buying both bulls and heifers and anything around the 400kg mark seemed to be the magic number.

Farmers were active in the heifer ring where lighter stores 200kg to 350kg averaged €4.23/kg, with heifers 350kg to 450kg averaging €4.33/kg and those 450kg plus averaging €4.06/kg.

A BBX BB4438 heifer, born September ’24 and weighing 255kg, was bought for €2,150 (€8.43/kg), sold by a farmer from Castlerea.

A LMX out off GrangeFord JoJo ET, weighing 415kg, got the top price of €2,650 (€6.39/kg) for a farmer from Claremorris.

Other prices included: 390kg CHX €2,160, 440kg LMX €2,580, 430kg LMX €2,800. OR 6.51/KG

The next weanling sale will be a show and sale on March 25, with booking on Thursday, March 20, on 0818 301 401 between 9.30 a.m. and 1 p.m.