Ballymahon Mart’s general sale of cattle on Thursday witnessed a sharp trade for continental-bred store cattle with buyers slowly starting to appear to purchase cattle for grass.

There was plenty of interest for a small selection of yearling bullocks weighing 290kg to 340kg, with prices ranging from €5.40/kg to upwards of €6/kg.

Similar aged Charolais-cross and Limousin-cross bulls with more feeding and weighing from 415kg to 450kg sold from €4.50/kg to €5.20/kg.

Demand was also firm for spring 2024-born store bullocks, with good-quality Limousin-crosses and Charolais-crosses selling in the main from €4.30/kg to €4.80/kg, with heavier lots weighing up to 700kg selling from €4/kg to €4.50/kg, while Angus-crosses and Hereford-crosses sold from €3.90/kg to €4.15/kg on average.

Heifers followed a similar price trend. A good entry of yearling males and females sold under organic status also met keen demand, with prices ranging from €4.80/kg to €5.80/kg for the entry of mainly Charolais-cross and Limousin-cross cattle.

The trade was also good for over a dozen calves. Angus heifers weighing 55kg to 60kg sold from €355 to €425, with a couple of bulls at €485 to €560.

A handful of Friesian bull calves weighing 51kg to 60kg sold from €295 to €300.

Fleshed Friesian cows sold from €2.60/kg to €3/kg, with plainer lots back to €2/kg, while beef cows sold from €3.30/kg to €4/kg.

In pictures

This quality young Charolais-cross bullock born 11/06/25 and weighing 325kg sold for €1,960 (€6.03/kg).

This 435kg yearling Limousin-cross bull born 16/03/25 sold for €1,920 (€4.41/kg).

This Hereford-cross bullock weighing 575kg and born 21/02/24 sold for €2,340 (€4.07/kg).

This Charolais-cross heifer weighing 610kg and born 08/04/24 sold for €2,800 (€4.59/kg).

This pair of Aberdeen Angus-cross heifers born 03/03/24 and 09/03/24 and weighing 435kg sold for €1,730 (€3.98/kg).

This top-quality Charolais-cross bullock weighing 590kg and born 25/04/24 sold for €2,840 (€4.81/kg).

Weighing 675kg, this Limousin-cross bullock born 12/04/24 sold for €2,900 (€4.30/kg).

This Limousin-cross bullock born 021/04/25 weighing 290kg sold for €1,590 (€5.48/kg).

Weighing 740kg, this aged Hereford-cross cull cow born 22/02/14 sold for €2,020 (€2.73/kg).

Weighing 580kg, this Charolais-cross heifer born 24/04/24 sold for €2,410 (€4.16/kg).

This Charolais-cross heifer born 30/04/24 and weighing 570kg sold for €2,530 (€4.44/kg).