Saturday’s sale at Headford Mart saw a special weanling sale take place in conjunction with the usual sale.

Mart manager Joe Wynne said that while the sale was small on account of weather conditions, the trade for good-quality bulls and heifers was strong. However, some of the plainer weanlings saw prices back a little on last year.

The entry of bullocks saw prices range from €1.42/kg to a top of €2.61/kg, with the majority of continentals making from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg.

Plainer cattle and those from a dairy background continue to be a slower sell, with less demand for these.

Good-quality bullocks over 600kg sold mainly from €1,000 to €1,330/head, with feeders and agents still active. Lighter stores from 450kg to 550kg sold mainly from €950 to €1,190/head, with plain Friesians selling from €790 upwards.

The heifer sale saw prices range mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.40/kg for average-quality continentals, while top-quality heifers sold to a top price of €745 along with the weight, which was paid for a 635kg Charolais. Heavy heifers were very scarce, but sold from €1,030 to €1,380. There was a small entry of stores on offer from 450kg to 480kg, which sold from €920 to €960.

The weanling bull prizewinners went to Denis Naughton, Shrule, Dunmore, Co Galway, whose bull won first prize. This Belgian Blue bull weighed 500kg in the ring and was bid to €1,400, but was not sold.

The second prize went to the Reilly Ladies, Beaghmore, Belclare, Tuam, and their bull was another Belgian Blue. He weighed 380kg and was sold for €1,100.

The main sale of weanling bulls saw prices range from €365 over to €900 over the weight. Quality was key when it came to prices, with better-quality 320kg to 360kg bulls making from €800 to €900, while those with a lot of muscle or suitable for feeding sold from €1,000 to €1,100.

Weanling heifers saw prices range mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.60/kg, with top-quality heifers making over €2.80/kg. The highest price was a 360kg Limousin which made €1,010 or €2.81/kg.

The cull cow sale saw prices range from €1,030 to €1,300, while suckler cows sold from €1,060 to €1,200.

Commission rates are €10 to the buyer and 2% to the seller.