Returning for its annual Christmas dairy and suckler sale was Newport Mart on Tuesday 27 December.

Unlike previous years, this year’s sale saw a decline in the number of entries brought forward for sale, in particular on the dairy side of the house with around 30 head of dairy stock present on the day.

The smaller numbers were met with good demand from buyers at the ringside.

Suckler numbers on the day were as strong as ever with a variety of in-calf heifers, first- and second-calvers alongside a number of lots of older cows of a variety of breeds.

This Belgian Blue heifer born February 2018 and in-calf to a Limousin bull and due to calve in March 2023 sold for €1,640.

This Hereford-cross in-calf heifer born April 2021 sold for €1,340.

This Fresian heifer born April 2020 and due to calve in January 2023 sold for €1,900.

This Limousin-cross cow born April 2013 sold for €1,340.

This Speckle Park heifer born March 2020 and due to calve in January 2023 to a Limousin bull sold for €1,450.

One of the main highlights of the day saw a Belgian Blue- cross in-calf heifer that was served to the Limousin AI bull EBY born in January 2021 and weighing 610kg go under the hammer and sell for €2,710 (€4.44/kg). This heifer was donated by the Collins family from Ardagh, Co Limerick, alongside a tonne of super beef nuts for the purchaser with all proceeds from the lot going to Milford Hospice in recognition of the care of the late Maura Collins.

Quality was met with a steady demand throughout the day with prices for suckler heifers averaging at €1,400.

Some of the lower-end females averaged €900, with the top end reaching up to highs of €2,710.

Suckler cows typically averaged €1,550 but the lots on offer varied in price from €1,500 to €1,600.

Dairy heifers and cows sold well, with the top price of €1,900 being paid for an April 2020-born Friesian heifer due to calve at the end of January.

This Speckle Park heifer born March 2020 and due to calve in January 2023 to a Limousin bull sold for €1,450.

This Belgian Blue-cross heifer born February 2018 and in calf to a Limousin bull and due to calve in March 2023 sold for €1,470.

This Limousin-cross heifer born May 2018 in calf to a Limousin stock bull sold for €1,350.

This Belgian Blue-cross heifer born January 2021 and in calf to EBY sold for €2,710.

This Speckle Park heifer born February 2020 and in-calf to a Limousin stock bull sold for €1,560.

This Blonde d'Aquitaine-cross in-heifer born March 2020 and in calve to a Limousin stock bull sold for €1,750.

This Limousin-cross heifer born March 2020 and in due to calve in January 2023 to an Angus bull sold for €1,450.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, mart manager James Lee commented: “Sucklers are flying. There is serious demand out there as there has been all year long.

“We had a smaller number of dairy stock here today than we would usually have, but what was brought forward for sale made plenty.

“There was a 100% clearance rate and we were really delighted with how the stock sold today.”

Despite lower than usual numbers, the special dairy and suckler was another big success for 2022.

Newport mart will reopen for business as usual from 5 January 2023.