Last Saturday saw the annual spring show and sale of cattle take place at Headford Mart.

The sale saw a large entry of top-quality stock on offer, with the majority of those on offer being good-quality continentals.

This Aubrac-cross heifer, born April 2017 and weighing 585kg sold for €1,220 (€2.09/kg).

Demand was steady, with plenty of farmers and agents active for all types. There was a good supply of Angus and Hereford on offer also, mostly bred from dairy cows. Quality was key when it came to the sale, with some of the plainer types slower to sell at times.

This Limousin-cross heifer, born April 2017 and weighing 355kg, sold for €840 (€2.37/kg).

At the top of the trade, heavy beef bullocks over 600kg were a strong trade and sold mainly from €1,200 to €1,400. The top price was €1,790 for the first-prizewinning 815kg Charolais bullock sold by James Forde from Corrandulla.

This Charolais-cross heifer, born March 2017 and weighing 620kg, sold for €1,380 (€2.23/kg).

The first-prizewinning pair of bullocks were 778kg on average and sold for €1,690 each, owned again by James Forde.

The second-place bullock was a 660kg Charolais which sold for €1,420 and was owned by John Kelly, Castlegar.

This Charolais-cross heifer, born June 2017 and weighing 580kg, sold for €1,200 (€2.07/kg).

There were some plainer types including Friesians which sold for over €1,000. Continentals from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €1,100 to €1,250/head, but plainer types made from €1,000 upwards.

These three Angus-cross bullocks, born April 2018 and weighing 273kg on average, were bid to €550 (€2.00/kg).

Lighter steers from 400kg to 500kg were not that common and sold mainly from €900 to €1,050/head. Good-quality weanling bulls were met with good demand and prices ranged mainly from €800 to €950/head.

This Limousin-cross bullock, born November 2017 and weighing 390kg, sold for €950 (€2.44/kg).

Some lighter bulls under 300kg sold from €500 to €600.

The first-prizewinning heifer was a 605kg Limousin which sold for €1,480 and was owned by Paul Connell, Claregalway.

This Limousin-cross bullock, born October 2017 and weighing 590kg, sold for €1,290 (€2.19/kg).

The second-prizewinning heifer was a 620kg Charolais which sold for €1,360 and was owned by Des Roche, Belclare.

Heavy heifers were a similar trade to bullocks, but demand for better-quality heifers was slightly stronger, with prices rising to over €1,500.

This Limousin-cross bullock, born May 2017 and weighing 635kg, sold for €1,380 (€2.17/kg).

The majority of better-quality types sold mainly from €1,300 to €1,400/head.

Lighter heifers from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €1,100 to €1,300, but some plainer types made around €1,000. Stores from 400kg to 500kg were a strong trade, with plenty of farmer buyers present.

This Limousin-cross heifer, born February 2018 and weighing 420kg, sold for €930 (€2.21/kg).

They sold mainly from €900 to €1,000, while lighter heifers under 400kg sold mainly from €800 to €950/head.

Commission rates are €10 to the buyer and 2% to the seller.

This Limousin-cross heifer, born February 2017 and weighing 605kg, sold for €1,480 (€2.45/kg).

This Limousin-cross heifer, born February 2017 and weighing 625kg, sold for €1,510 (€2.42/kg).

This Limousin-cross heifer, born April 2017 and weighing 640kg, sold for €1,480 (€2.31/kg).