Trend of rising prices continues at Mayo mart

RISING prices are a continuing trend at Balla Mart.

Saturday saw another good sale, with a serious trade for cattle - the good prices bringing them out early. Every ring was dearer this week, with the average price €2,390 - up €100 on last week.

Bullocks were a better trade than any day, with quality bullocks up by €1,060 on this sale last year.

Lighter stores went from €4.91 to €5.51/kg on average, with some of the tops making over €6/kg.

Bullocks 300kg to 400kg averaged €5.51/kg, stores 400kg to 500kg averaged €5.02/kg, while heavier bullocks 500kg plus averaged €4.80/kg.

A year old bullock weighing 365kg was sold for €6.36/kg by a Tulrahan, Claremorris, farmer.

Another 650kg bullock made €3,430 (€5.28/kg), with the best of the heavy bullocks all bought by northern factory buyers.

Examples of bullock prices included: 365kg CHX €2,320; 395kg CHX €2,460; 445kg CHX €2,700; 650kg LMX €3,430.

Lighter store heifers 300kg to 400kg averaged €5.17/kg, stock 400kg to 500kg averaged €4.89/kg, with heifers 500kg plus averaging €4.66/kg.

Examples of heifer prices included: 285kg LMX €1,360; 380kg LMX €2,240; 475kg CHX €2,800; 515kg BBX €3,500.

A farmer who travelled from Moate in Co. Westmeath had a cracking June ‘23 heifer weighing 515kg that sold online for €3,500 (€6.80/kg) to a buyer from the north.

As usual, cows were a good trade, with prices holding up well and giving some great prices. Dry cows 500kg plus averaged €3.96/kg this week.

Tops in the dry cows was a Charolais weighing 865kg that made €3,860 (€4.46/kg) for a Ballina farmer.

Best in the springers was a three-year-old Limousin with a Belgian Blue heifer calf at foot, bought for €4,450 from a Ballinasloe farmer.

There were no weanlings on Saturday as they will be selling on Tuesday evenings (August 12 and 26), with the weanling show and sale taking place on September 9.

Booking for next Saturday's sale is on Wednesday and Thursday on lowcall 0818 301 401.