A sunny day, combined with some drying over the past few days, saw more farmers active at Balla Mart on Saturday.

Similar to previous weeks, the best trade was for store and forward bullocks, while good-quality store heifers were also in demand. Plainer-quality weanling heifers and light stores were a little slower to sell at times, but there were buyers present for all types of cattle.

Feeders were snapping up bullocks over 600kg at prices ranging mainly from €700 to €800 along with the weight. There was plenty of farmer activity for forward store bullocks over 500kg, with better-quality types a very strong trade. Average-quality bullocks in that weight range sold mainly from €700 to €800 over.

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Plainer bullocks, although scarce, were a relatively good trade. Lighter store bullocks were met with strong demand also. The average 450kg steer sold mainly from €550 to €700 along with the weight, with better-quality types making over €750 with the weight. Good-quality weanling bulls were a steady trade, with those from 300kg to 400kg selling mainly from €800/head to €900/head.

Heifers

This Charolais cross heifer, born March 2015 and weighing 500kg, sold for €1,245 (€2.49/kg).

Short-keep heifers were a strong trade, with top-quality types over 580kg making from €750 to €850 over the weight. Heifers from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €1,200 to €1,300. Store heifers from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €900 to €1,150.

Weanling heifers from 300kg to 400kg sold from €700 to €850, with better-quality types making from €850 to €950. Plainer weanling heifers were a little slower to sell, with sellers reluctant to let them off at low prices.

Young good-quality calved cows and in-calf heifers were a firm trade, with good-quality calved types selling mainly from €1,400 to €1,650. Older calved cows sold from €1,000 to €1,200.

Continental feeding cows sold mainly from €350 to €450 along with the weight. Better-quality types suitable for slaughter made from €500 to €600 over, with top-quality young fleshed cow heifers making up to €2.10/kg.

Scroll through the gallery at the top of the page to see pictures from the sale.

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