Quality stock at Mayo sales
THE prices of quality store bullocks and heifers were up this week at Balla Mart but heavier cattle were reflecting the €1 contraction in factory prices since last October and the uncertainty of further reductions coming.
Bullocks 300kg to 400kg averaged €5.42/kg, bullocks 400kg to 500kg averaged €4.77/kg, while those 500kg plus averaged €4.26/kg.
Top bullock prices included: 245kg LMX €1,380 (€5.63/kg); 370kg CHX €2,620 (€7.08/kg); 425kg CHX €2,700 (€6.35/kg).
Heifers 300kg to 400kg averaged €5.37/kg, heifers 400kg to 500kg averaged €4.84/kg, while those 500kg plus averaged €4.55/kg. Best was an August ‘23 heifer that made €3,600.
Tops in the heifers included: 395kg LMX €2,700 (€6.84/kg); 435KG SI €2,840 (€6.53/kg); 520kg LMX €3,440 (€6.62/kg).
Dry cows 500kg plus averaged €3.41/kg. Tops was a 10-year-old Charolais dry cow that made €3,800.
Best in the springers was an April ‘23 Charolais cow, due the end of March, bought for €4,550.
BALLINROBE MART
Wednesday last saw the return of the bullock and cow show and sale at Ballinrobe mart, with some exceptional stock on offer. Bullocks reached a high of €5.65/kg and cows topped at €3.73/kg.
Bullocks fetched prices from €1,280 to €3,240 per head or €2.12 to €5.65 per kg. Top prices included: LMX 770kg €3,240, €4.21; LMX 535kg €2,520, €4.71; CHX 605kg €2,800, €4.63; LMX 400kg €2,260, €5.65; LMX 495kg €2,500, €5.05.
Heifers achieved prices from €1,430 to €2,500 per head or €2.89 to €4.98 per kg, and those 400kg to 500kg averaged €3.63/kg or €1,650/head. Top prices included: LMX 505kg €2,500, €4.95; AAX 450kg €1,780, €3.96; AAX 420kg €1,620, €3.86.
Dry cows ranged from €1,550 to €3,300 per head, with an average of €2,400/head or €3.32/kg.
In the show, prize winners were as follows.
Best Cow: 1st Martin and Eoin Delaney, Seafinn, Hollymount, Lot 1411, AAX, 785kg, €2,930; 2nd Martin Shaughnessy, Kilglasson, Roundfort, Lot. 1414, LMX, 725kg, €2,660.
Standout Bullock: James McGuire, Ballygolman, Aughagower, Westport, Lot 304, CHX, 690kg, €3,100.
Best Bullock: 1st John Diskin, Rusheen East, Clonbur, Co. Galway; Lot 364, CHX, 655kg, €2,940; 2nd Anthony Tolan, Mace Middle, Claremorris, Lot 389, LMX, 645kg, €2,920.
Best Pair Bullocks: 1st John Diskin, Clonbur, Lot 365, CHX, 605kg, €2,800; 2nd Patrick Burke, Cregduff, Ballinrobe, Lot 346, CHX, 652.5kg, €2,910.
At Thursday's sheep sale, hoggets ranged from €99 to €184 or €2.05 to €3.71/kg, averaging €3.43/kg.
Cull ewes, prices ranged from €38 to €170, averaging €105/head, and price per kg ranging from €1.02 to €1.97, with an average of €1.45/kg.
In-lamb ewes ranged from €200 to €230, carrying twins due in April to Milford ram.
Wednesday, March 11, is the heifer show and sale. And on Friday, March 13, it's the weanling show and sale.
From Wednesday, March 18, there's a calf sale in the sheep yard. Call (094) 9541140.