The bad weather in the west has hit home, with some farmers unwilling to spend as much as this time last year on suckler outfits. This is as a result of many farmers having to house cattle due to heavy rainfall over the past two months.

There were just under 100 in-calf heifers and sucklers on show, with mainly Limousins, Charolais and Simmentals on offer.

The top-price heifer made an astonishing €2,700.

This 2015-born Limousin heifer, on the point of calving, sold for €1,420.

Eugene McHugh from Fenagh, Co Leitrim, had a special entry of over 60 continental heifers on show.

“We averaged €1,800 last year and €1,680 this year, so we’re back about €120/head for equally as good, or maybe even better, heifers than last year,” said McHugh after the sale.

This 2015-born Simmental cross heifer, with her time due up to a purebred Limousin bull, sold for €2,020.

According to McHugh, the poor weather this summer, especially in the northwest, has had the biggest impact on prices achieved.

Star ratings of cattle on the night made little or no difference to the price reached, with quality of stock being the biggest determining factor.

This 2014-born Simmental heifer, due on 7 November to a purebred Limousin bull, sold for €2,020.

All of the following heifers were in calf to AI or a purebred Limousin stock bull:

  • Limousin, born April 2015, sold for €1,420.
  • Limousin, born 2015, on point of calving, sold for €2,400.
  • Simmental, born March 2015, on point of calving, sold for €1,740.
  • Pedigree Charolais heifer, on point of calving to AI bull LZF, sold for €1,600.
  • This 2015 heifer, with her time up to an AI Limousin bull, sold for €2,400.

    Cows and calves

    Cow age and calf quality were the biggest influences on buyers when it came to purchasing cows with calves at foot.

    Aged outfits were hard sold, but bidding for younger cattle was brisker. However, weather again hampered sale prices, as some farmers were reluctant to buy due to danger of fodder shortage – a knock-on effect of the bad summer.

    There was a big range in price on the night, with the top price for a cow and calf recorded at €1,840.

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