Big money for forward stores in Ballyjamesduff

Ballyjamesduff mart had a big mart of store bullocks this week, with numbers up 100 head on the previous week.

The recent wet weather has put some pressure on ground conditions in the northwest, with some farmers choosing to sell cattle as opposed to housing them.

The bigger numbers didn’t affect the trade, with lots of customers for forward store and heavy bullocks.

Top quality bullocks in the 500-600kg weight bracket were selling from between €5-€6/kg depending on the weight and quality.

One of the top prices in the sale went to a July 2024-born Charolais bullock weighing 530kg and selling for €3,040 (€5.74/kg).

Heifers met a similar demand, with some of the best heifers in the sale hitting €6/kg with good quality Charolais and Limousin heifers around the 500kg mark hitting between €4-€5/kg.

Lighter traditional bred Aberdeen Angus and Hereford heifers in the 300-400kg weight bracket came in at €3.50-€4.00/kg depending on weight and quality.

Cull cows

Cull cows also met a good trade, with top-quality cows hitting close to €4/kg. Best demand was for young heavy well-fleshed cows with factory agents hungry for anything available for next day slaughter.

Average quality cows were selling for around the €3/kg mark, with poorer quality dairy cows lacking flesh back at €2-42.50/kg.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal Ballyjamesduff mart manager John Tevlin said: “The demand is still there in spades for the top-quality bullocks. They aren’t getting any more plentiful and that’s pushing customers more to secure those top-quality lots.”

Tevlin added that September and October are two very busy months in Ballyjamesduff.

There is a timed auction taking place between 26-29 September for the Corlismore pedigree herd, with some super Aberdeen Angus and Hereford heifers included in the sale.

“We have an on-farm evening sale being held for Tateetra and Rathmore farms in Co Louth on Friday 26 September. This sale includes 80 top quality commercial heifers.

“We also have a large sale of red Aberdeen Angus cows and calves taking place on 10 October for the Lisduff pedigree Aberdeen Angus herd.

“Finally, we have a timed auction of pedigree Limousin heifers for the North Eastern Limousin Club taking place from the 10-13 October. The Broomfield timed Simmental sale also takes place next weekend,” Tevlin said.