The mart trade continues its strong performance up and down the country, especially in the store and weanling rings.

There seems to be good demand for suckler cow and calf outfits but quality is more important here, with farmers willling to go the distance for the top-class cow-calf pairings.

Gortatlea Mart held its suckler sale on Thursday with a large number of in-calf heifers included in the sale. Over 70 lots went through the ring on the night.

Demand was good for good-quality lots while lesser dairy cross types didn’t see as good a trade. Top call of the night was €1,930 for a June 2017-born Limousin cow with a February 2020-born Limousin heifer calf at foot.

Average-quality cows with autumn born calves at foot were making from €1,300 to €1,600.

In-calf heifers ranged from €1,000 to €1,500, with dairy crosses attracting the lower end of the prices. A number of pedigree bulls were sold on the night from 12 to 15 months, with prices ranging from €1,200/head to €1,700/head.

Gortatlea Mart Suckler Sale: This May 2012-born Charolais cow in-calf to the AI Hereford bull due to calve in July sold for €1,460.

Gortatlea Mart Suckler Sale: This big framed 2012-born Charolais cow due to calve in July 2020 to the AI Charolais bull sold for €1,600.

Gortatlea Mart Suckler Sale: This March 2015-born Hereford cow in-calf to the Hereford bull and due in early March sold for €1,330.

Gortatlea Mart Suckler Sale: This February 2018-born Belgium Blue maiden heifer weighed 525kg and sold for €1,040.

Gortatlea Mart Suckler Sale: This 2017 born Belgium Blue heifer in-calf to the AI bull Fiston and due to calve on 19 March sold for €1,760.

Gortatlea Mart Suckler Sale: This 2017-born Belgium Blue in-calf heifer due to calve to the AI bull DEP on 12 March sold for €1,300.

Gortatlea Mart Suckler Sale: This 2016-born Hereford x Dairy cow sold due to calve in March to the Charolais bull for €1,000.

Gortatlea Mart Suckler Sale: Top price of the sale went to this June 2017-born Limousin first-calving heifer, with her February-born heifer calf at foot selling for €1,920.

Gortatlea Mart Suckler Sale: A 2009-born Charolais cow with July-born twin calves (bull and heifer), cow not back in-calf, sold for €1,560.

Gortatlea Mart Suckler Sale: A February 2016-born cow with a September-born Charolais heifer calf at foot, sold running with bull and no guarantee of being back in-calf, fetched €1,220.

Gortatlea Mart Suckler Sale: A May 2017 Hereford dairy cross first-calving heifer with a January-born AI sired Ch bull calf sold for €1,180.