There was a good entry of over 540 bullocks, 370 heifers and 150 cows at today’s sale in Balla Mart. The trade was very strong once again for better-quality heavy bullocks and heifers, but plain light store heifers remain a harder sell.

The talking point of the trade were the prices of the better-quality heavy store cattle, which were up on last week.

Those over 550kg were by far the best trade, with prices rising to around €1,000 along with the weight at the top of the trade.

This Charolais cross bullock, born April 2017 and weighing 720kg, sold for €1,740 (€2.42/kg).

The majority of good R+ and U grade heavy bullocks sold from €700 to €850 along with the weight.

Lighter bullocks from 500kg to 550kg sold mainly from €1,100 to €1,200 with most buyers focusing strongly on quality.

This Limousin cross bullock, born April 2017 and weighing 540kg, sold for €1,100 (€2.04/kg).

There were some plainer bullocks on offer also which sold mainly for a little over €2.00/kg. Lighter stores from 400kg to 500kg were not as strong a trade as heavier types, but where the quality on offer was good, prices ranged mainly from €700 to €800 along with the weight.

Plain quality stores are still sluggish and selling for about twice the weight while the average sold mainly from €950 to €1,150/head.

This Charolais cross heifer, born May 2017 and weighing 410kg, sold for €760 (€1.85/kg).

The heifer trade was a bit better than last week for better-quality heavy types, with plenty of top-quality heifers over 550kg making €1,300 to €1,400 with ease. Average-quality 550kg to 600kg heifers sold mainly from €1,150 to €1,250/head.

Lighter store heifers were a strong trade where good-quality types were on offer. Better-quality R+ and U grade heifers from 450kg to 500kg made from €1,100 to €1,250, while plainer quality heifers sold from €1,000 to €1,200.

Light plain stores under 450kg were a variable trade at time with buyers not as active for these. Prices ranged mainly from €800 to €900 for plainer types.

This Limousin cross cull cow, born 2013 and weighing 735kg, sold for €1,495 (€2.03/kg).

The cull cow trade saw continued strong demand for factory fit cows with prices of better quality types running from €1.85/kg to €1.95/kg. The majority of 650kg to 750kg feeding cows made from €1,000 to €1,200/head with quality having a large impact on prices.

Old thin feeding cows were a little easier with prices varying mainly from €1.30/kg to €1.60/kg.

This Belgian Blue cross cull cow, born 2011 and weighing 795kg, sold for €1,190 (€1.50/kg).

This Hereford cross cull cow, born 2013 and weighing 645kg, sold for €850 (€1.32/kg).

This Simmental cross cull cow, born 2014 and weighing 785kg, sold for €1,520 (€1.94/kg).

This Limousin cross cull cow, born 2012 and weighing 640kg, sold for €1,035 (€1.62/kg).

This Charolais cross cull cow, born 2008 and weighing 775kg, sold for €1,335 (€1.72/kg).

This Limousin cross cull cow, born 2006 and weighing 730kg, sold for €1,000 (€1.37/kg).

This Limousin cross bullock, born June 2017 and weighing 430kg, sold for €1,090 (€2.54/kg).