Quality and price went hand in hand for Balla Mart’s opening weanling slae on Tuesday last, with a strong entry of 438 bulls and 130 heifers on offer.

Exporters were prevalent around the bull ring, with competing exporters vying against one another to source weanlings.

Close to one third of all the cattle on offer were bull weanlings weighing 300kg to 400kg. MartBids analysis shows these trading at an average of €5.34/kg, with the top third selling for €5.98/kg.

A small number of bulls weighing below 200kg saw an average price paid of €5.46/kg.

Heavier bulls weighing between 400kg and 450kg were a solid trade, with particularly high-quality cattle in this weight bracket trading to an average of €4.88/kg, with the top and bottom thirds of this weight circa 50c/kg above and below this price.

A strong entry of 74 bulls weighing over 450kg saw an average price of €4.70/kg.

In the heifers, some top-quality show heifers were the highlight of the night, with a top price of €5,800 paid for a 350kg Limousin-cross heifer (€16.57/kg), with many high-end heifers crossing €6/kg. Average price in the 300kg to 400kg bracket came to €4.92/kg, with the top third trading at €5.98/kg.