Camera at the Mart: smaller numbers and easier prices in Ballinrobe

Friday’s weanling sale in Balllinrobe Mart saw 120 weanlings pass through the ring and with easier numbers came a relaxing in prices.

Farmer buyers dominated the day’s trade, combined with feedlot buyers, with a lower number of export-type weanlings on offer.

After a large entry the week prior, a small show of bulls weighing 200kg to 300kg sold to an average of €5.08/kg. There was a huge variance between the top and bottom third of cattle quality-wise

Top-end bulls averaged €6.31/kg and the bottom third averaged €4.13/kg.

The majority of bulls were in the 300kg to 400kg bracket, averaging €5.32/kg, a slight fall of 8c/kg on last week, though the bottom third of bulls were up 31c/kg at €4.80/kg.

At a weight of 340kg, this puts an average-quality bull at €1,808.80.

Just a trio of heavy bulls above 400kg were present, with these lots averaging €5.28/kg.

Heifers

Some nice types of heifers were on offer, though numbers were again small.

A good share of Limousin-cross heifer calves suited to either feeding or breeding sold at reasonable money for nice-quality animals.

Heifers between 200kg and 300kg sold to an average of €5.69/kg, a 4c/kg cut from the week prior.

Top-quality lots of this bracket took a tumble, averaging €6.26/kg (39c/kg less than the week prior), though lesser-quality types were up 23c/kg to €5.15/kg, though with smaller number, averages can easily be influenced.

Heifers from 300kg to 400kg were available in similar numbers. These heifers averaged €5.31/kg for average-quality heifers. At a liveweight of 320kg, this puts the average-quality heifer sitting at €1,699.20. This is a 25c/kg slip on the week prior, but, again, lower numbers can see a handful of lesser-quality types drag average prices down. The top third of heifers in this weight averaged €6.07/kg, while the bottom third averaged €4.62/kg.

In pictures