Last Friday saw a special weanling show and sale take place at Ballymote Mart. Manager Stephen Hannon said that there was a good entry of over 250 bulls and heifers on offer with the vast majority of very good quality.

This Limousin cross heifer, born January 2019 and weighing 390kg sold for €790 (€2.03/kg).

The trade for heifers was sticky at times, but the bull trade was better than expected given the current climate. Quality bulls were quite a good trade, but where plainer ones were on offer they were harder sold.

This Charolais cross heifer, born February 2019 and weighing 350kg sold for €800 (€2.29/kg).

Heavy bulls over 400kg sold mainly from €1.90/kg to €2.13/kg or for up to €1,000/head. The main run of weanling bulls was from 300kg to 400kg.

This Charolais cross bull, born May 2019 and weighing 300kg sold for €980 (€3.26/kg).

Top-quality heavier types sold for up to €2.36/kg and prices averaged at just over €2.30/kg, with some top-quality lighter bulls making as much as 400kg. Plain-quality bulls from 300kg to 350kg sold mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg. Light bulls under 300kg ranged mainly in price from €600 to €750/head.

This Angus cross bull, born April 2019 and weighing 255kg sold for €525 (€2.06/kg).

Heifers from 350kg to 400kg sold mainly from €620 to €835 depending on quality, with lighter types from 300kg to 350kg selling mainly from €700 to €800/head and some making over €900/head. Light heifers from 200kg to 300kg sold for just over €2.30/kg for average-quality types, with the best heifers making over €3.00/kg.

This Charolais cross bull, born May 2019 and weighing 280kg sold for €750 (€2.68/kg).

Commission rates are 2% to the seller and €9 to the buyer with and entry fee of €2/head.