Heifers stole the limelight at Gort Mart’s annual show and sale of spring-born Belgian Blue weanlings on Thursday evening.

Mart manager Bernie Fahey reports that live exporters and farmers keen to purchase heifers for showing and breeding show-quality cattle battled it out ringside for what she described as an excellent offering.

The average sale price for heifers traded was recorded shy of €4/kg at €3.90/kg. There were 18 heifers traded for over €4.00/kg, with two heifers, including the first-prizewinning heifer, topping €8/kg. Another 20 heifers sold from €3/kg to €3.99/kg, while in the region of 15 lesser-quality heifers sold from €2.35/kg to €3.00/kg.

There were in the region of 15 Belgian Blue heifers unsold on the night, with many notable prices ranging from €2.75/kg to €3.00/kg in these lots.

Bull prices

Belgian Blue bulls did not match the same high prices as heifers, but good-quality bulls were reported as being a lively trade, with live exporters competing with finishers. The entry of about 80 Blue bulls recorded an average price of €3.30/kg, with Bernie reporting that over 50% of the offering sold for in excess of €3.50/kg.

Over 20 bulls weighing in the main from 400kg to 500kg ranged in price from €1,500 to a top of €1,810/kg. There was a significant differential between prices paid for top- and lesser-quality bulls, with R grading bulls in the 340kg to 420kg bracket selling back to €2.60/kg to €2.80/kg, while U grading bulls exceeded the €3/kg mark and sold from €3.50/kg to €3.80/kg, with a selection including prizewinners hitting €4/kg and slightly higher.

Other breeds

The trade for other breeds was also influenced strongly by breed, with many producers targeting special sales with their best-quality weanlings.

Charolais- and Limousin-cross heifers weighing 300kg to 400kg sold in general from €2.55/kg to €2.85/kg, with some lighter lots and top-quality heifers selling to €3/kg.

Charolais and Limousin bulls averaged close to the €3/kg mark, ranging anywhere from €2.60/kg for plainer-types to €3.30/kg to €3.50/kg for quality bulls.

In pictures

This 380kg Belgian Blue-cross heifer born 09/12/2021 sold for €1,430 (€3.76/kg).

This 395kg Belgian Blue-cross heifer born 06/07/2022 sold for €1,275 (€3.23/kg).

The first-prizewinning red Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighing 350kg sold for €3,100 (€8.86/kg).

This Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighing 340kg and born 30/01/2022 sold for €920 (€2.71/kg).

This Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighing 420kg and born 04/01/2022 sold for €1,700/kg (4.05/kg).

This roan-coloured Belgian Blue-cross bull weighing 515kg and born 06/01/2022 sold for €1,600 (€3.11/kg).

This 395kg Belgian Blue-cross bull born 02/02/2022 sold for €1,040 (€2.63/kg).

This 390kg Belgian Blue-cross bull born 28/01/2022 sold for €1,240 (€3.18/kg).

This Belgian Blue-cross bull weighing 410kg and born 21/01/2022 sold for €1,110 (€2.83/kg).

This white Belgian Blue-cross bull weighing 390kg and born 04/02/2022 sold for €1,350 (€3.46/kg).

This Belgian Blue bull weighing 375kg and born 18/02/2022 sold for €1,350 (€3.60/kg).

This quality Belgian Blue-cross bull weighing 370kg and born 28/01/2022 sold for €1,350 (€3.65/kg).

This heifer weighing 335kg and born 16/02/2022 sold for €870 (€2,60/kg).

This Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighing 365kg and born 02/01/2022 was bid to €750 but not sold.

This Limousin-cross bull weighing 300kg sold for €770 (€2.57/kg).

This good-quality Belgian Blue-cross bull weighing 320kg sold for €1,100 (€3.44/kg).

This Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighing 420kg and born 08/01/2022 sold for €1,400 (€3.33/kg).

This Limousin-cross bull weighing 450kg and born 04/01/2022 sold for €1,250 (€2.78/kg).

This Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighing 390kg and born 08/01/2022 was bid to €1,110 (€2.85/kg) but not sold.

This Belgian Blue-cross bull weighing 370kg and born 19/02/2022 sold for €970 (€2.59/kg).

This Belgian Blue-cross bull weighing 405kg and born 30/01/2022 sold for €950 (€2.35/kg).

This Belgian Blue-cross bull born 1/1/2022 and weighing 365kg sold for €1,210 (€3.32/kg).