The annual spring show and sale of cattle took place on Saturday at Headford Mart. The sale saw a large entry of top-quality stock on offer, with the majority of those on offer being good quality continentals.

However, there was a good supply of Angus and Hereford on offer also, mostly bred from dairy cows.

Quality was key when it came to the sale, with some of the plainer types slower to sell.

This Limousin cross bullock, born May 2017 and weighing 635kg, sold for €1,380 (€2.17/kg).

Beef bullocks

At the top of the trade, heavy beef bullocks over 600kg were a strong trade and sold mainly from €1,200 to €1,400. The top price was €1,790 for the first prize winning 815kg Charolais bullock.

The first prize winning pair of bullocks were 778kg on average and sold for €1,690 each.

There were some plainer types including Friesians which sold for over €1,000.

Continentals from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €1,100 to €1,250/head but plainer types made from €1,000 upwards.

Lighter steers from 400kg to 500kg were not that common and sold mainly from €900 to €1,050/head.

Weanling bulls

Good-quality weanling bulls were met with good demand and prices ranged mainly from €800 to €950/head. Some lighter bulls under 300kg sold from €500 to €600.

This Charolais cross heifer, born March 2017 and weighing 620kg, sold for €1,380 (€2.23/kg).

Heavy heifers were a similar trade to the bullocks, but there demand for the better-quality heifers was slightly stronger with prices rising to over €1,500. The majority of better-quality types sold mainly from €1,300 to €1,400/head.

Lighter heifers from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €1,100 to €1,300 but some plainer types made around €1,000.

Stores from 400kg to 500kg were a strong trade with plenty of farmer buyers present. They sold mainly from €900 to €1,000 while lighter heifers under 400kg sold mainly from €800 to €950/head.

This Belgian Blue cross heifer, born February 2017 and weighing 595kg, sold for €1,390 (€2.34/kg).

This Aubrac cross heifer, born April 2017 and weighing 585kg, sold for €1,220 (€2.09/kg).

This Limousinc cross heifer, born April 2017 and weighing 355kg, sold for €840 (€2.37/kg).

This Charolais cross Heifer, born June 2017 and weighing 580kg, sold for €1,200 (€2.07/kg).

These theree Angus cross bullocks, born April 2018 and weighing 273kg on average, were bid to €550 (€2.00/kg).

This Limousin cross bullock, born November 2017 and weighing 390kg, sold for €950 (€2.44/kg).

This Limousin cross bullock, born October 2017 and weighing 590kg, sold for €1,290 (€2.19/kg).