Ballymote Mart’s special heifer sale on Thursday last saw keen demand from buyers for heifers meeting certain specifications.

Continental heifers grading R+ or better with good weight for age saw the keenest demand from buyers, though well-fleshed Angus lots fit for immediate slaughter also saw buyers actively competing against each other.

As has been the trend in some marts of late, out-of-age heifers (over 30 months old) and especially those lacking full flesh were penalised on price per kilo.

A mix of factory agents and farmer buyers were active, with qualities of heifers to suit all.

Store heifers and forward stores were most common in numbers, with some breeding-type heifers also available.

Sharp demand

Roughly 60 weanling heifers met with sharp farmer demand. Heifers from 200kg to 300kg averaged €5,22/kg, with lots from 300kg to 400kg achieving a strong average of €5.43/kg, with the top third of this weight selling for €6.30/kg.

Heifers in the 400kg to 500kg bracket averaged €4.46/kg. The bottom end of heifers of this weight were mainly light Angus and Hereford types, selling from €3.60/kg to €4.10/kg in the main.

Top-quality heifers sold from €4.40/kg to €5.10/kg in the main, with several choice lots breaching this and selling to highs of €5.96/kg.

Average price in the 500kg to 600kg bracket equated to €4.48/kg, with the bottom third of heifers quality-wise selling below the €4/kg mark, with the top third of heifers selling to an average of €5.08/kg.

Again, the lower end of stock were primarily dairy-beef, with some poorer-grading continentals in the mix.

A nice show of heavy heifers met with keen demand, with factory agents particularly keen for in-spec heifers.

Average price of this weight was a strong €4.41/kg, with the top third selling for €4.92/kg, while the bottom third traded bang on €4/kg. Top price in the sale was a pedigree Charolais heifer born in September 2023 and weighing 765kg that sold for €3,400 (€5.20/kg) to an online buyer.