Numbers and prices stay strong in Mayo marts
BALLA Mart saw a big sale on Saturday, with nearly 700 lots.
Bullocks 300kg to 400kg averaged €4.42/kg, bullocks 400kg to 500kg averaged €4.49/kg - up 19 cent/kg on last week, with farmers giving prices for 400kg stores that were not far removed from factory cattle 300kg heavier, while stock 500kg plus averaged €4.05/kg.
There were some fine heavy bullocks weighing over 800kg plus that made over €3,000 - bought by northern buyers.
Top prices in the bullocks included:
285kg CHX €1,770 (€6.21/kg)
390kg CHX €2,380 (€6.10/kg)
455kg CHX €2,710 (€5.96/kg)
675kg CHX €2,950 (€4.37/kg)
800kg CHX €3,190 (€3.99/kg)
845kg AAX €3,200 (€3.79/kg)
910kg CHX €3,690 (€4.05/kg)
There was over 286 lots of heifers sold. A farmer from Claremorris had some cracking heifers, with one weighing 550kg bought for €3,350 by a northern buyer for breeding. Another heifer weighing 580kg made €3,330 for the same farmer.
The mart has reiterated that all heifers sold in the heifer ring are deemed suitable for breeding - if not this must be declared along with any other faults.
Heifers 300kg to 400kg averaged €4.23/kg, heifers 400kg to 500kg averaged €4.25/kg, while those 500kg plus averaged €4.12/kg.
Top heifer prices included:
280kg AUX €1,580 (€5.64/kg)
395kg CHX €2,100 (€5.32/kg)
480kg LMX €2,600 (€5.42/kg)
500kg LMX €3,150 (€6.30/kg)
550kg SAX €3,350 (€6.09/kg)
Dry cows 500kg plus were making €3.37/kg this week. By far the best prices by weight were in the cows and there were some springers that made in excess of €5,000.
In the dry cows, a 2013 Limousin, 970kg, made €3,520. A September ’23 cow with its heifer calf at foot was sold for €5,700 by an Enniscrone farmer.
Booking for next Saturday's sale is on Wednesday on 0818 301 401. The weanlings will be sold again on Tuesday, May 19, with booking as usual this Thursday.
BALLINROBE MART
Ballinrobe Mart saw numbers staying strong this week.
Heifers fetched from €950 to €2,190 per head, or €3.17 to €7.27 per kg.
Heifers 500kg plus averaged €3.82/kg or €1,990/head, with a top of €4.23/kg. Those 400kg to 500kg averaged €3.92/kg or €1,700/head, with a top of €4.66/kg. And heifers 300kg to 400kg averaged €4.04/kg or €1,420/head, with a top of €4.71/kg.
Bullocks achieved prices from €800 to €2,540 per head or €3.27 to €5.96 per kg.
Bullocks 500kg plus averaged €3.80/kg or €2,025/head, with a top of €4.16/kg. Bullocks 400kg to 500kg averaged €3.96/kg or €1,760/head, with a top of €4.95/kg. And the 300kg to 400kg bullocks averaged €4.47/kg or €1,580/head, topping at €5.80/kg. Those under 300kg averaged €5.00/kg or €1,285/head with a top of €5.96/kg.
Dry cows ranged from €1,300 to €2,530 per head, with an average of €2,110/head or €3.38/kg.
Suckler cows ranged from €2,900 to €2,980 for an AAX cow with a AAX bull calf at foot.
Weanling bulls 200kg to 350kg averaged €4.85/kg or €1,500/head, with a high of €5.95/kg or €1,720. Bulls 350kg to 450kg averaged €4.72/kg or €1,965/head, with a top price of €5.01/kg or €2,180. And bulls 450kg plus averaged €4.11/kg or €2,255/head - the high there €4.47/kg or €2,300.
Thursday's sheep sale saw spring lambs ranging from €4.11/kg to €4.49/kg with a maximum price per head of €220.
Prices included: 49.50kg, €220, €4.44; 51kg, €215, €4.22; 44.5kg, €184, €4.13; 47kg, €200, €4.25.
Hoggets: €2.62 - €4.92/kg, average €3.58/kg | per head €74 – €260, average €170.
EH, 55kg, €206, €3.75; RH, 75kg, €260, €3.47; Mixed, 65kg, €200, €3.08; EH, 54kg, €195, €3.62.
Sheep: €1.01 - €2.38/kg, average €1.96/kg | per head €36 – €250, average €151.
Ram 105kg, €250, €2.38; CE, 136kg, €210, €1.54; CE, €180, 81kg, €2.22.
Ewes with lambs at foot ranged from €110 - €300: third crop three ewes with three lambs - €300 per unit; three ewes with six lambs €276 per unit; fourth crop two ewes with three lambs €202 per unit.
Cattle and sheep are wanted weekly for customers. There's an organic sale on the third Wednesday of every month. For more, call (094) 9541140.