The trade was strong again today at Balla Mart with good cattle seeing prices steady on last week. Where plainer types were on offer, prices were a slight bit back on last week.

The number of bullocks remains low but demand and prices are very strong with sellers content after the sale.

This Charolais cross bullock, born Febraury 2018 and weighing 545kg, sold for €1,150 (€2.11/kg).

The number of heavy bullocks on offer remains low but the trade for these is brisk with buyers quite active. Those over 600kg sold mainly from €1,250 to €1,400 depending on the quality.

Store bullocks

Store bullocks over 500kg sold mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.30/kg and up to €2.40/kg for better-quality types. Lighter store bullocks from 400kg to 500kg were a solid trade and sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg with better quality types selling for over €2.45/kg.

This Charolais cross bull, born March 2018 and weighing 300kg, sold for €775 (€2.58/kg).

Weanling bulls were a flying trade for good-quality types but plainer bulls were a little easier. The majority of bulls from 300kg to 400kg bulls sold mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.60/kg. Lighter types from 200kg to 300kg made from €600 to €750/head depending on quality.

Heifers

Heavy heifers were a brisk trade again with top-quality types over 600kg selling from €1,350 to €1,450/head. Lighter types from 550kg to 600kg were a strong trade also with prices ranging mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.20/kg.

This Angus cross heifer, born February 2017 and weighing 450kg, sold for €950 (€2.11/kg).

Hereford and Angus heifers sold from €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg. Light heifer weanling heifer under 300kg sold mainly from €650 to €750.

Heavier heifers over 300kg sold mainly from €800 to €900 where the quality on offer was good, with some top-quality types making over €950. Store heifers from 400kg to 500kg were a good trade also as farmers seem to be sourcing cattle earlier than usual. Prices ranged mainly from €950 to €1,150.

This Limousin cross heifer, born March 2016 and weighing 595kg, sold for €1,490 (€2.50/kg).

This Charolais cross heifer, born May 2018 and weighing 315kg, sold for €780 (€2.48/kg).

This Limousin cross heifer, born June 2017 and weighing 355kg, sold for €680 (€1.91/kg).

This Limousin cross heifer, born May 2017 and weighing 630kg, sold for €1,430 (€2.27/kg).

This Angus cross bull, born March 2018 and weighing 400kg, sold for €835 (€2.09/kg).

This Charolais cross bull, born May 2018 and weighing 370kg, sold for €1,030 (€2.78/kg).

This Charolais cross bull, born March 2018 and weighing 350kg, sold for €780 (€2.29/kg).

This Limousin cross bull, born June 2018 and weighing 365kg, sold for €975 (€2.67/kg).