The weekly cattle sale at Aurvio Balla Mart resumed on Saturday; but it was not quite business as usual. Farmers were excluded from the lairage once cattle were numbered, with all access points to the yard completely closed off to keep farmers and the public out.

The move to exclude farmers from the lairage came on the back of a recent incident involving a farmer and a bull at Aurivo’s Mohill Mart. A more stringent health and safety policy has now been rolled out across all four of Aurivo’s mart facilities since last Wednesday. Mohill Mart is set to reopen next Saturday (28 April).

While the change was a big one for farmers and agents, all farmers present respected the new rules and adhered to the protocols in place. The new system meant changes with the intake of cattle also, with a strict new rule that all cattle to be sold on the day must be penned before 12pm.

Viewing

The skywalks, which were installed in the mart some years ago, were laden with farmers viewing stock, as this gave a good overview of the cattle moving from pens to the rings.

Farmers viewing stock from the sky walk.

Farmers viewing stock from the skywalk.

Like at other sales in the locality where similar rules have been implemented in recent weeks, cattle drovers commented that the absence of farmers in the lairage has had positive effects, with easier and safer movement of stock from the intake chutes to pens and then on to the sales rings.

Farmers active

In terms of the trade, with the sun shining and land soaking well in the past few days, there was renewed farmer activity for store cattle. Farmers and agents were particularly active for all good-quality types, with plainer cattle also easier sold.

This 490kg four star Belgian Blue cross heifer, born August 2016 sold for €1,450 (€2.96/kg).

This 490kg four-star Belgian Blue cross heifer born August 2016 sold for €1,450 (€2.96/kg).

This 520kg Simmental cross heifer, born July 2016 sold for €1,120 (€2.15/kg).

This 520kg Simmental cross heifer born July 2016 sold for €1,120 (€2.15/kg).

This 465kg Hereford cross heifer, born March 2016 sold for €1,090 (€2.34/kg).

This 465kg Hereford cross heifer born March 2016 sold for €1,090 (€2.34/kg).

This 415kg five star Limousin cross heifer, born February 2017 sold for €1,240 (€2.99/kg).

This 415kg five-star Limousin cross heifer born February 2017 sold for €1,240 (€2.99/kg).

The heifer ring saw a sharp increase in prices across the board, with many good-quality forward stores meeting price rises of €40 to €60 per head and more compared with a few weeks ago.

Forward store heifers over 450kg were a very strong trade. Most good-quality types made from €750 to €900 over the weight and some made €1,000 over and more. Lighter heifers and plainer heifers were a good trade also, with strong demand driving prices upwards. Even plain, light Angus heifers were an easy sell.

This 405kg Charolais cross bullock, born March 2017 sold for €1,070 (€2.64/kg).

This 405kg Charolais cross bullock born March 2017 sold for €1,070 (€2.64/kg).

This 365kg four star Charolais cross bullock, born December 2016 sold for €1,135 (€3.11/kg).

This 365kg four-star Charolais cross bullock born December 2016 sold for €1,135 (€3.11/kg).

This 330kg Charolais cross bullock, born June 2017 sold for €930 (€2.82/kg).

This 330kg Charolais cross bullock born June 2017 sold for €930 (€2.82/kg).

The bullock trade was strong also. Good-quality bullocks were a brisk trade, but prices may not have been up to the extent of the heifers. Agents and farmers were still very active for all types and, like plainer heifers, plainer bullocks and bulls were easier sold also.

This 335kg Angus cross weanling, born May 2017 sold for €890 (€2.66/kg).