Last Tuesday’s general cattle sale at Ballina Mart saw an entry of about 400 cattle and 500 sheep on offer.

Mart manager Billy Loftus said that the trade overall was strong, with an increase in prices of all types of cattle.

This Charolais cross bullock, born April 2018 and weighing 700kg sold for €1,570 (€2.24/kg).

He added that they had northern buyers present for bullocks, heifers and for cows, which helped drive the trade.

Well-fleshed cull cows sold from €1.70/kg to €1.80/kg, with some top-quality square cows selling to €2.00/kg, which is similar to last year’s trade.

This pen of nine lambs weighing 43kg on average, sold for €96 each (€2.23/kg).

Bullocks over 500kg sold mainly from €2.05/kg to €2.10/kg, with top-quality types making over €2.30/kg.

Lighter store bullocks sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg. Forward heifers were a strong trade, with choice lots selling for over €2.20/kg.

This pen of six fat lambs weighing 50kg on average, sold for €119 each (€2.38/kg).

The sheep trade was slightly improved once again, with heavy butchers’ lambs selling from €124 to €129/head.

Lambs from 45kg to 50kg sold mainly from €105/head to €115/head. Store lambs from 35kg to 40kg sold from €80 to €90/head.

This Limousin bull calf, born November 2019 sold for €475.

Lighter store heifers from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg, with U grades making from €2.40/kg to €2.50/kg.

There was a small number of ewes and lambs on offer also, which sold to €215/head.

This pen of twelve store lambs sold for €80 each.

Commission rates are €9 to the buyer and 2% to the seller to a maximum of €20/head.