Quality stock as prices stay steady at Mayo mart

SATURDAY'S poor weather conditions affected farmers travelling for the weekly sale at Balla Mart, but bullock prices remained similar to the previous sale.

There was a lot of quality well fed stock on offer - a credit to the farmers who have put in all the hard work feeding and expense incurred since last year.

Bullocks 300kg to 400kg averaged €4.57/kg, bullocks 400kg to 500kg averaged €4.43/kg, and those 500kg plus averaged €4.10/kg.

Top prices in the bullocks included:

265kg CHX €1,620 (€6.11/kg)

340kg LMX €2,040 (€6.00/kg)

455kg CHX €2,400 (€5.27/kg)

625kg LMX €2,880 (€4.61/kg)

785kg LMX €2,910 (€3.70/kg)

805kg CHX €3,100 (€3.85/kg)

There were just over 200 lots of heifers, with heavy heifers selling better than the bullocks, though it was all down to the quality.

Heifers 300kg to 400kg averaged €4.55/kg, heifers 400kg to 500kg averaged €4.53kg - up by .29 cent/kg, and those weighing in at 500kg plus averaged €4.26/kg - up by .18 cent/kg.

Top prices in the heifers included:

290kg LMX €1,660 (€5.72/kg)

355kg CHX €2,400 (€6.76/kg)

495kg LMX €2,690 (€5.43/kg)

540kg AAX €3,860 (€5.30/kg)

685kg LMX €3,020 (4.41/kg)

745kg CHX €3,230 (€4.34/kg)

835kg CHX €3,550 (€4.25/kg)

Dry cows 500kg plus this week were making €3.27/kg. There were 81 cows for the third ring, with 20 weighing in excess of 700kg and three making over €3,000.

Best in the springers was a two-year-old Charolais cow, due in July to an AI bull, that was bought for €3,650 from a Louisburgh farmer.

Saturday, April 11, will be the next sale, with booking on Wednesday on low call 0818 301 401.