Saturday’s sale at Balla Mart saw a special weanling sale take place in conjunction with the usual sale. In total there were about 350 cattle on offer, with numbers back slightly on last year on account of the Mayo football match in Croke Park.

This Charolais-cross cull cow, born 2007 and weighing 745kg, sold for €950 (€1.28/kg).

In terms of the trade, mart manager Michael Murphy said that demand for good weanlings was better than expected, with buyers from right across the country present.

This Limousin-cross bull, born November 2018 and weighing 500kg, sold for €1,065 (€2.13/kg).

While average prices were back on the same sale last year, better-quality weanlings were not back by very much at all.

Heavy bulls over 450kg suffered the worst in terms of lower prices, with some of them back by more than €100/head.

This Charolais-cross bull, born January 2019 and weighing 385kg, sold for €770 (€2.00/kg).

There was export and feeder demand for better-quality well-muscled bulls, with some Belgian Blues making up to €1,140/head.

Good-quality bulls from 350kg to 420kg sold mainly from €800 to €900/head, but very few got into €950/head.

This Limousin-cross bull, born January 2019 and weighing 300kg, sold for €805 (€2.68/kg).

Average-quality bulls in the same weight range sold mainly from €750 to €850/head. Plainer-quality types were a more difficult trade, with some plain types and Angus calves selling for under €650/head.

This Limousin-cross bull, born February 2019 and weighing 395kg, was bid to €920 (€2.33/kg) but not sold.

Heavy bullocks over 500kg sold for €2.00/kg on average, with prices topping out at €785 along with the weight.

Bullocks from 400kg to 500kg sold for €1.90/kg on average, with prices topping out at €2.43/kg.

This Charolais-cross bull, born December 2018 and weighing 450kg, sold for €950 (€2.11/kg).

Heavy heifers over 500kg were a little stronger than bullocks and averaged €2.02/kg, with a top price of €2.23/kg achieved.

There was good farmer activity for all good continental types, but, as with bulls and bullocks, plainer types were a slower sell.

This Belgian Blue-cross bull, born September 2018 and weighing 500kg, sold for €1,120 (€2.24/kg).

Lighter heifers saw prices average at €2.08/kg, with €2.84/kg paid for a top-quality Belgian Blue heifer. Weanling heifers from 300kg to 400kg sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg for good-quality types.

This Charolais-cross bull, born April 2019 and weighing 440kg, sold for €900 (€2.05/kg).

There was a good entry once again of cull cows and the trade for these was firm. The majority of continental cull cows sold from €200 to €350 along with the weight, with some better-quality young cows making upwards of €400 with the weight.

This Belgian Blue-cross bull, born October 2018 and weighing 405kg, sold for €1,000 (€2.47/kg).

There was a small selection of Friesian cull cows on offer also, which sold for around €1.00/kg.

Commission rates are 2% to the seller and €9 to the buyer, with an entry fee of €2/head.

This Charolais-cross bull, born March 2019 and weighing 305kg, sold for €840 (€2.75/kg).

This Limousin-cross bull, born January 2019 and weighing 440kg, sold for €970 (€2.20/kg).