On Saturday 15 April, Jim Heery’s annual weanling heifer sale took place in Carrigallen Mart in Co Leitrim, where 60 well-coloured powerful lots went under the hammer and sold to an average price of €2,530.
The 60 lots were predominantly made up of Belgian Blue- and Limousin-cross breeding, with a small selection of Charolais- and Shorthorn-crosses also on offer.
The high demand for show-quality weanlings has failed to cease this spring, with these showy lots selling to highs of €5,550, which was achieved for a 505kg Belgian Blue-cross heifer.
Strong prices
The sale got off to a great start and remained strong throughout, as 17 of the 60 lots sold for €3,000 or more.
There were two lots to secure €5,000, the first of which was a pedigree Belgian Blue heifer weighing 595kg and the second a Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighing 440kg (€11.36/kg).
These heifers were followed by a Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighing 620kg that sold for €4,600, a Limousin-cross heifer weighing 470kg that sold for €4,100, another Limousin-cross weighing 430kg that sold for €4,000 and a Belgian Blue-cross weighing 470kg.
The 100% clearance rate of the top-quality weanling heifers further drives home the demand that exists for quality breeding and show-type heifers.
