Big numbers of bulls out at Mayo weanling sale

YESTERDAY'S weanling sale at Balla Mart was a big sale, especially in the bulls, with over 500 bull weanlings booked in and only 10 lots missed. The sale featured a lovely selection of Charolais calves suitable for farmers.

Lighter bull calves under 200kg averaged €6.42/kg, while those 200kg to 350kg averaged €6.09/kg, with the tops making over €6.50 to €7.50/kg.

Bull weanlings 350kg to 450kg averaged 5.48/kg with heavier stock 450kg plus averaging €4.97/kg.

Exporters were active around the bull ring buying 300kg-400kg calves and giving around €5.30 to €5.70/kg on average.

A cracking January-born BBX bull weighing 615kg made €3,000 for a Clonbur farmer. But it was the lighter calves that did well in the averages - for example, a 260kg Charolais was sold for €2,320 (€8.92/kg) by a Castlebar farmer.

Top prices in the bulls includes:

195kg LMX €1,400 (€7.18/kg)

260kg CHX €2,320 (€8.92/kg)

395kg BBX €2,600 (€6.58/kg)

615kg BBX €3,000 (€4.88/kg)

Online bidding really came into its own for the heifer weanlings with 40% bought online.

There were a few Belgian Blue heifers around suitable for future breeding and they got great buying.

One January ’25 born Belgian Blue - BB9463 'Hong Wang' Progressive AI sired heifer - weighing 400kg made €3,400 (€8.50/kg).

Stock for feeding around 350kg were very similar to last week, as can be seen from the averages below, but up by approximately €870 on this time last year.

Lighter store heifers 200kg to 350kg averaged €5.69/kg, heifers 350kg to 450kg were similar to last week and averaged €5.59/kg, while those 450kg plus averaged €4.72/kg.

Top prices in the heifers included:

185kg CHX €1,240 (€6.70/kg)

345kg CHX €2,820 (€8.17/kg)

400kg BBX €3,400 (€8.5/kg)

There will be another sale next Tuesday, October 28, a day sale, with booking this Thursday on low call 0818 301 401 between 9.30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Next Friday there will be a special heifer breeding sale with some cracking heifers booked in.