Ballymahon Mart saw its annual weanling show and sale on Saturday last attract quality cattle to the midlands mart.
Some 312 weanlings were present for sale, with 267 seeing the hammer fall and the calves going to new homes.
A total of 87% of cattle were purchased ringside, with 13% bought by online buyers.
The majority of cattle on offer were quality suckler-bred continental bull and heifer weanlings.
Charolais-cross and Limousin-cross bulls were sought by both finishers and exporters, while farmer buyers bought the female counterparts.
A mix of buyers were in attendance, with farmer buyers particularly active, while shippers were both ringside and online to scoop up some of the top lots on offer.
In the bull ring, a small number of bulls weighing from 200kg to 300kg were presented for sale, with an average of €5.09/kg, the top third having sold for €6.07/kg.
A heavier class of bull was a similar trade, with the 300kg to 400kg weight bracket holding over half the bull numbers.
Bulls of this weight band sold for €5.03/kg of an average, down 10c/kg on the week. The top and bottom third of bulls sold for €5.77/kg and €4.27/kg respectively.
Heavier bulls weighing between 400kg and 450kg saw an average of €4.64/kg paid, with €5.34/kg and €4.02/kg paid for the top and bottom third respectively.
A small number of bulls tipping the scales over 450kg saw an average of €4.87/kg paid for these types.
Heifers
In the heifer ring, a small number of runner-type heifers below 200kg sold at an average of €3.55/kg. Heifers overall were an improved trade on the week prior.
Those weighing from 200kg to 300kg saw a 17c/kg increase in price on the week to leave them trading at an average of €4.98/kg, while the top third of heifers of this weight jumped 32c/kg on the week to see them selling at €5.77/kg.
The majority of heifers on offer crossed the scales between 300kg and 400kg, with these types seeing a smaller but still positive price increase of 6c/kg on the week to leave them at an average of €4.79/kg.
Some standout prices of the day included a Belgian Blue-cross bull weanling weighing 465kg selling for €2,600 (€5.59/kg).
Meanwhile, a March-born Charolais-cross heifer weighing 410kg sold for €2,400 (€5.85/kg).
