Farmers buying for grass at Mayo sales

THERE were a lot of farmers about at Balla Mart on Saturday from all around the country, buying for grass.

With just over 300 lots of bullocks, they saw a great clearance, with smaller stores making great prices when compared with heavier stock, helped by additional buyers around the ring and online.

Feedlot buyers were bemoaning the factory cattle price saying they are taking losses on some cattle bought last year that won’t come into their price disregarding the cost of feeding.

Bullocks 300kg to 400kg were up and averaged €4.76/kg (up 19 cent/kg on last week), while bullocks 400kg to 500kg were similar to last week and averaged €4.54/kg.

Top prices in the bullocks included: 295kg CHX €2,020 (€6.85/kg); 355kg CHX €2,260 (€6.37/kg); 480kg CHX €2,580 (€5.38/kg); 580kg CHX €2,880 (€4.97/kg).

There were just over 280 lots of heifers and average prices were 300kg - 400kg €4.72/kg; 400kg - 500kg €4.38/kg; while heifers 500kg plus averaged €4.24/kg.

Top heifer prices included: 290kg CHX €1,700 (€5.86/kg); 390kg SIX €2,060 (€5.28/kg); 485kg LMX €2,410 (€4.97/kg); 555kg BBX €3,400 (€6.13/kg).

Saturday, April 25, will be the end of month Continental sale, with booking on Wednesday on low call 0818 301 401.

BALLINROBE MART

At Ballinrobe Mart on April 15, heifers fetched prices from €960 to €2,210 per head or €3.44 to €5.32 per kg.

Heifers 500kg plus averaged €3.90/kg or €2,110/head, with a top of €4.21/kg. Those 400kg to 500kg averaged €4.15/kg or €1,850/head, with a top price of €4.63/kg.

Bullocks achieved prices from €1,040 to €2,660 per head or €2.54 to €5.73 per kg. Those 500kg plus averaged €3.83/kg or €2,295/head, with a top of €4.67/kg. Bullocks 400kg to 500kg averaged €4.27/kg or €1,970/head, with a top price of €5.43/kg.

Dry cows ranged from €840 to €2,780 per head, with an average of €1,756/head or €2.87/kg.

Suckler cows prices ranged from €1,060 to €1,960.

Weanling bulls 200kg to 350kg averaged €4.97/kg or €1,230/head, with a high of €5.35/kg or €1,300. Bulls 350kg to 450kg averaged €4.84/kg or €1,940/head, and the high there was €5.45/kg or €2,060.

Thursday was the usual weekly sheep sale.

Spring lambs: 46kg, €220, €4.78/kg; 41.5kg, €195, €4.70/kg.

Ewe hoggets ranged from €130 to €226 or €3.08 to €4.95/kg, averaging €4.33/kg.

Wethers ranged from €112 to €172 or €2.95 to €4.39/kg, averaging €3.87/kg.

Cull ewe prices ranged from €72 to €224, averaging €152/head, and price per kg ranging from €1.27 to €2.67, with an average of €2.19/kg.

Rams ranged from €172 to €280.

There was a good variety of ewes with lambs at foot, ranging from €134 to €270, with second crop ewes with lambs at foot averaging €250.

Cattle and sheep are wanted weekly for customers.

An organic sale takes place on Wednesday and the third Wednesday of every month thereafter. There's a special bullock sale on April 29.

For more, call (094) 9541140.