Carrigallen Mart’s weanling show and heifer sale on Saturday last saw quality cattle come through the rings, not just in the show but throughout the entire day, with golden-coloured Charolais and Limousin-cross heifers dominating in numbers, with prices to match.

Heifer weanlings weighing 200kg to 300kg averaged an impressive €5.46/kg, with the top third averaging €6.12/kg and the bottom third a respectable €4.54/kg, according to MartBids analysis.

The majority of heifers on offer sat in the 300kg to 400kg bracket, with these types averaging €5.27/kg.

The same sale last year saw this average being €6.14/kg, with prices understandably back on the highs of last year.

The top and bottom third of heifers of this weight band averaged €6.12/kg and €4.54/kg respectively. Heifers of this weight accounted for close to half of the weanlings on offer.

Heavier heifers traded on par with other sales nationally, with an average of €4.86/kg paid for lots weighing between 400kg and 450kg.

Seven heifers sold between €3,000 and €4,000/head, with an additional two heifers selling between €4,000 and €4,900.

Champion of the day was a Charolais-cross heifer sired by the revered CF52, which sold for €5,400 (€14.03/kg) to a ringside buyer.

Online bidding was also very active, with a total of 22% of all animals sold being purchased online.