Big sale of heifers at Mayo mart

SATURDAY saw a big sale at Balla Mart, with more heifers than bullocks this week, and going on until after 7 p.m.

Smaller stores were making better prices than last week for the quality involved and feedlot buyers of heavier stock were more cautious - the top priced ones being bought by a northern factory buyer.

There were a lot of lighter small bullocks rather than strong types. However, there were buyers for everything and this resulted in a great clearance.

Bullocks 300kg to 400kg averaged €4.72/kg, bullocks 400kg to 500kg averaged €4.49/kg, and those 500kg plus averaged €4.07/kg.

Top prices in the bullocks included:

265kg CHX €1,840 (€6.24/kg)

345kg LMX €2,500 (€7.25/kg)

505kg CHX €2,940 (€5.82/kg)

785kg CHX €3,100 (€3.95/kg)

800kg LMX €3,290 (€4.11/kg)

There were over 500 lots of heifers booked in, with one cracking Limousin weighing 540kg making €3,050 for a Ballina farmer.

Another Limousin heifer weighing 655kg was sold for €3,080 by a Dunmore farmer.

Heifers 300kg to 400kg averaged €4.50/kg, heifers 400kg to 500kg averaged €4.41/kg - slightly up by .04/kg on last week, and those 500kg plus averaged €4.17/kg - also up on last week.

Top prices in the heifers included:

280kg CHX €1,670 (€5.96/kg)

390kg LMX €2,340 (€6.00/kg)

425kg LMX €2,490 (€5.86/kg)

540kg LMX €3,050 (€5.65/kg)

655kg LMX €3,080 (€4.70/kg)

By far the best prices by weight were in the cows due to northern buyers online, while there were three springers that made in excess of €4,000.

In the dry cows, a four-year-old Belgian Blue weighing 795kg was sold for €3,640 by a Curry, Ballymote, farmer.

A six-year-old Belgian Blue cow with a bull calf at foot made €4,250 for a Killasser farmer.

Booking for next Saturday's sale is on Wednesday on low call on 0818 301 401.