Averages for stores up again at Mayo mart
THE averages were up for store bullocks at Balla Mart on Saturday, while heavier bullocks 500kg plus remained much the same as last week.
Bullocks 300kg to 400kg averaged €5.07/kg - up 8 cent/kg on last week or over €200 a head. These bullocks were making from €2,000 to €2,500 (€5.40 to €6/kg), with many returning buyers, and with time running out with only five Saturday sales left before Christmas.
Store bullocks 400kg to 500kg averaged €4.75/kg while heavier bullocks 500kg plus averaged €4.62/kg.
There were some smashing heavy Continental bullocks weighing 650kg to 750kg that were up by approximately €200 and sold from €3,200 to €3,400.
These heavy bullocks, as usual, had a base put under them by Northern factory buyers who were active around the ring.
Top prices in the bullocks included:
270kg LMX €1,700
365kg LMX €2,300
405kg CHX €2,560
600kg CHX €3,210
760kg CHX €3,380
In the heifers, stores 300kg to 400kg averaged €4.93/kg, heifers 400kg to 500kg averaged €4.67/kg, and those 500kg plus averaged €4.42/kg.
There were no fancy breeding type heifers, as farmers are probably holding them for the breeding sale on November 22, so this left only feeding heifers.
The best was a smashing 690kg AAX heifer that made €3,120 (€4.52/kg), going again to a Northern factory buyer. And any heifer over 700kg made in excess of €3,000.
Top prices in the heifers included:
285kg CH €1,380
395kg CH €2,220
480kg CH €2,940
540kg LMX €3,020
690kg AAX €3,120
770kg AAX €3,280
Dry cows 500kg plus averaged €3.68/kg.
There was a big sale of dry cows with 157 lots. The tops was a seven-year-old cow that made €3,720 for a farmer from Castlerea.
In all there was just over 50 lots of springers and 13 of these made over €4,000. Best was a ’23 born Shorthorn in-calf heifer, due in January, that made €4,900 for a Swinford farmer.
Booking for next Saturday's sale is on Wednesday, while on Thursday booking goes ahead for the next Tuesday weanling sale on 0818 301 401.
Looking further ahead, a special breeding sale takes place on Saturday, November 22, with booking on Wednesday, November 19.