Big number of weanlings at Tuesday Mayo sale

THE Balla weanling sale yesterday (Tuesday) evening was a big sale, with over 400 bulls booked in, and business at the mart went on until late.

There was a great selection of well done Continental bulls, with the Belgian Blue tops, bought for export to Holland.

Bulls ranging from 350kg to 450kg met a brisk trade from other exporters, making from €1,700 to €2,500 or €4.60/kg in general.

It was an improved sale on the last one, as can be seen by the averages below.

Bulls 200kg to 350kg averaged €5.63/kg - up 34 cent/kg on the last sale; weanlings 350kg to 450kg averaged €5.26/kg - up 34 cent/kg; and heavier bulls 450kg plus averaged €4.38/kg - up 8 cent/kg.

Top prices in the bulls included:

340kg BBX €2,300 (€6.76/kg)

410kg BBX €2,900 (€7.07/kg)

530kg LM €2,760 (€5.25/kg)

There were a lot of farmers to buy heifer calves. The quality was mixed and included a lot of very young calves.

Heifers 200kg to 350kg averaged €4.83/kg; those 350kg to 450kg averaged €4.69/kg, and heavier heifers 450kg plus averaged €4.09/kg.

A Bekan farmer had a LMX year-old heifer weighing 350kg that sold for €2,850 (€8.14/kg). Another farmer from Garrafrauns in Dunmore had a smashing 10-month-old BBX heifer weighing 385kg that made €2,960 (€7.69/kg).

Top prices in the heifers included:

300kg LMX €3,000 (€10/kg)

350kg LMX €2,850 (€8.14/kg)

385kg BBX €2,960 (€7.69/kg).

Weanlings will be sold again in two weeks on Tuesday, May 5, with booking as usual on Thursday, April 30, on low call 0818 301 401 between 9.30 a.m. and 1 p.m.