Marts have become vastly different places in the last two weeks and Elphin was no different when it hosted its recent heifer sale.
Normally buzzing with activity, around the ring was quiet. A crowd of 25 people doesn’t inspire confidence for a good sale. However, observing the trade, there was a number of very good customers with good appetite for stock and the sale achieved a good average and high clearance rate.
Over 300 heifers and 100 bullocks went through the two rings on the day.
This Feb 2018-born Charolais x heifer weighed 590kg and sold for €1,430.
Love to keep going
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, mart manager Gerry Connellan said: “We’re doing our best here. We have hand sanitising facilities at the entry points to the rings and we are asking all purchasers and sellers to sign in as well. For local farmers we would love to keep the mart going but we won’t be taking any chances and we’ll follow the government advice on continuing trading.”
This September 2018-born red limousine heifer weighed 475kg and sold for €1,020.
Northern demand
The mart trade is holding up very well in these difficult times, with top end heifers a very good trade on the day. A few big feeders anxious of running short of cattle in the event of further restrictions on the mart trade added a bit of bite to the trade.
"We had a couple of great customers here today, including one from the north and that helped the trade," Connellan said.
This pair of Charolais x heifers weighed 580kg and sold for €1,380.
Heavy heifers in the 500-600kg bracket were making anywhere from €1, 300 to €1,500 (around €2.40/kg). Heifers in the 400-500kg bracket were back at €1,000-€1,100.
These two July 2017-born Charolais heifers weighed 592kg and sold for €1,250.
These three Charolais x heifers weighing 426kg sold for €1,020.
This July 2018-born Charolais heifer weighed 505kg and sold for €1,350.
Marts have become vastly different places in the last two weeks and Elphin was no different when it hosted its recent heifer sale.
Normally buzzing with activity, around the ring was quiet. A crowd of 25 people doesn’t inspire confidence for a good sale. However, observing the trade, there was a number of very good customers with good appetite for stock and the sale achieved a good average and high clearance rate.
Over 300 heifers and 100 bullocks went through the two rings on the day.
This Feb 2018-born Charolais x heifer weighed 590kg and sold for €1,430.
Love to keep going
Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, mart manager Gerry Connellan said: “We’re doing our best here. We have hand sanitising facilities at the entry points to the rings and we are asking all purchasers and sellers to sign in as well. For local farmers we would love to keep the mart going but we won’t be taking any chances and we’ll follow the government advice on continuing trading.”
This September 2018-born red limousine heifer weighed 475kg and sold for €1,020.
Northern demand
The mart trade is holding up very well in these difficult times, with top end heifers a very good trade on the day. A few big feeders anxious of running short of cattle in the event of further restrictions on the mart trade added a bit of bite to the trade.
"We had a couple of great customers here today, including one from the north and that helped the trade," Connellan said.
This pair of Charolais x heifers weighed 580kg and sold for €1,380.
Heavy heifers in the 500-600kg bracket were making anywhere from €1, 300 to €1,500 (around €2.40/kg). Heifers in the 400-500kg bracket were back at €1,000-€1,100.
These two July 2017-born Charolais heifers weighed 592kg and sold for €1,250.
These three Charolais x heifers weighing 426kg sold for €1,020.
This July 2018-born Charolais heifer weighed 505kg and sold for €1,350.
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