Watch: premium in-calf heifers average shy of €6,000 in Tuam

There was a packed ringside at Friday night’s in-calf heifer sale hosted by Tuam Mart for Norman Connolly, Cuilbeg, Lavally, Tuam, Co Galway.

The sale of 70 hand-picked in-calf heifers, traded under the tagline Premium In-calf Heifers, were strong shapely animals weighing in the region of 750kg on average and aged in general from 30 to 36 months of age.

There was lively bidding throughout the sale, both ringside and online, which supported an average price per head of approximately €5,900. The general run of prices ranged from €4,900 to €7,000.

The hammer fell at €4,500 to €4,900 for 13 lots, from €5,000 to €5,900 for 30 heifers, €6,000 to €6,900 for 14 lots, from €7,000 to €7,900 for seven heifers and above €8,000 per head for three heifers. Just four heifers went unsold giving a clearance rate of over 94%.

This show-stopper of an in-calf heifer was a success on the show scene in 2026 and stole all the headlines at Friday’s sale, selling for €14,200. The hybrid Belgian Blue-cross-Limousin heifer, born 17/05/2024 and weighing 845kg, is due to calve on 20/01/27 to sexed semen Ardlea Rigby.

This halter-trained Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighing 860kg, born 06/01/24 and due to calve on 15/12/26 to sexed semen Ardlea Rigby (LM8622) sold for €8,800.

Weighing 855kg and born 01/01/23, this Limousin-cross heifer due to calve on 10/11/26 to sexed semen Ardlea Rigby sold for €6,500.

This Limousin-cross heifer weighing 790kg, born 09/02/24 and due to calve on 06/11/26 to the Limousin sire Tomschoice Scorpion (LM1109) sold for €5,250.

This Limousin-cross heifer born 11/01/24, weighing 700kg and due to calve on 20/11/26 to Templequain Rover sold for €4,600.

This roan-coloured Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighing 795kg, born 01/03/24 and due to calve on 13/11/26 to Loyal (LM4184) sold for €7,000.

Weighing 870kg and born 25/09/23, this Limousin-cross heifer due to calve on 07/11/26 to sexed semen Powerful Proper (LM7416) sold for €7,300.

This Belgian Blue-cross heifer born 22/03/24, weighing 675kg and due to calve to sexed semen Loyal (LM4184) sold for €4,400.

This roan-coloured Limousin-cross heifer born 29/06/24, weighing 655kg and due to calve on 02/03/27 to Templequain Rover was bid to €5,350 but not sold.

Weighing 675kg, this Limousin-cross heifer born 24/02/24 and due to calve on 06/12/2026 sold for €4,850.

This strong Charolais-cross heifer weighing 750kg, born 05/04/24 and due to calve on 29/01/26 to Brooklands Marco (LM5443) sold for €6,100.

This Belgian Blue-cross heifer born 02/12/23, weighing 815kg and due to calve on 24/11/26 to sexed semen Ardlea Rigby (LM8622) sold for €8,000.