With the good weather finally landing after a poor spring, farmers were out in force in Ballymote on Thursday, where store cattle crossed €5/kg regularly and weanlings were able to cross €6/kg.

Mart manager David Faughnan said: “Cow numbers are back – that’s down to the new TB rules, but also we have a special sale of cull cows and weanlings next week. So, farmers are holding on that week longer.

“On Thursday, there was lots of farmers around the ring. We had a number of northern buyers but a lot of online activity from farmers up the midlands, looking for cattle for grass.

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“There was exceptional farmer demand for store bullocks, especially the lighter lads under 400kg. They were able to cross €5.50/kg with some not far off €6/kg.

"For the lesser bullocks, they saw an improved trade this week. With anywhere from €3.80/kg up to €4.60/kg to be got. Depending on weight, the lighter the bullock, the higher he'll make per kg. Heavier, more fleshed bullocks sold better then previous weeks, with over €4.40/kg to be got for the continental bullocks, which will take another month to six weeks of feeding.

Exceptional demand

"We had a good entry of weanlings with exceptional demand for bull weanlings; €5/kg was the general run with the better lads able to cross €6/kg – with some even not far off €7/kg."

This Charolais-cross bull weighing 360kg and born 21/05/25 sold for €2,480 (€6.89/kg).

“Heifers, like the bullocks, saw an improved trade again this week, with more competition for the heifers over 550kg – unlike the bullocks where the lighter lads were sought after. Heifers under 400kg sold from €4/kg up to €5/kg, with heavier well-bred continental stores 400kg to 500kg sticking around the €5/kg and lesser heifers with dairy influence, making from €3.80/kg to €4.50/kg.

"A big entry of heavier heifers over 550kg met a sharp demand from buyers looking to graze these over the summer months, to finish in the back end. Heifer regularly crossed €4.50/kg with €5/kg to be got for the top-quality lots.

“A small entry of cows sold from €3.50/kg up to just shy of €4/kg for younger more well-bred continental cows but I’m expecting a big entry next Thursday for our special cull cow and weanling sale,” Faughnan said.

There were 330 cattle on offer on Thursday, with 25% of cattle purchased by online buyers – a notable number of online buyers purchased over 10 lots each.

Top priced lot on the day was a 36-month-old Charolais-cross heifer that sold for €3,320 weighing 740kg.

This Charolais-cross heifer weighing 740kg and born 12/05/2023, sold for €3,320 (€4.49/kg).

This Charolais-cross bullock weighing 610kg and born 04/04/24, sold for €2,760 (€4.52/kg).

This Limousin-cross heifer weighing 470kg and born 12/03/24, sold for €2,380 (€5.06/kg).

This Charolais-cross bull weighing 405kg and born 26/04/25, sold for €2,460 (€6.07/kg).

This Limousin-cross heifer weighing 500kg and born 10/09/23, sold for €2,120 (€4.24/kg).

This Limousin-cross bullock weighing 475kg and born 28/07/24, sold for €2,120 (€4.46/kg).

This Charolais-cross bull weighing 405kg and born 28/02/25, sold for €2,500 (€6.17/kg).

This Limousin-cross bull weighing 360kg and born 22/04/25, sold for €2,340 (€6.50/kg).

This Charolais-cross heifer weighing 440kg and born 30/04/24, sold for €2,440 (€5.55/kg).

This Limousin-cross bull weighing 405kg and born 03/03/25, sold for €2,400 (€5.94/kg).