Steady trade for quality cattle at Balla

There was a smaller seasonal entry at Saturday’s sale in Balla Mart, with just two rings in operation.

There were over 100 cows on offer which were met with steady demand, although some fleshed types were a little easier than previous weeks.

Fleshed cows sold mainly from €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg, although the higher prices were a little more scarce than last week. The main range of feeding cows sold from €1.65/kg to €1.75/kg depending on quality, with plainer and older cows making from €1.20/kg upwards.

Heavy bullocks over 500kg were a good trade once again. Prices of good-quality types ranged mainly from €2.15/kg to €2.30/kg with some prices higher than this.

Average-quality types sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg. Light stores from 400kg to 500kg were a fairly steady trade. Prices for these ranged mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg and up to €2.50/kg at time for top-quality types.

Weanling bulls and bullocks from 300kg to 400kg sold mainly from €800 to €900/head. There were plainer ones on offer which sold from €720 upwards while top-quality types made over €950/head.

Forward store heifers from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.25/kg for R grades with plainer types making €1.95/kg to €2.05/kg.

Stores from 400kg to 500kg were similar to last week, but some plainer ones were a little easier.

The average heifer made from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg, with U grades making over €2.50/kg. Weanling heifers were like bulls a reasonably firm trade where the quality on offer was good. Those from 300kg to 400kg sold mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.40/kg and up to €2.60/kg for better types. Plain light weanling heifers though were back on last week.