The trade at Balla Mart on Saturday was quite steady on last week, with the best demand for store bullocks.

The heifer trade was similar to last week also, with prices trailing bullocks. Bullocks over 700kg were only available in small numbers and sold for up to €1,480 at the top of the trade with most selling from €1,100/head to €1,275/head.

This Charolais-cross bullock born April 2018 and weighing 590kg sold for €1,100 (€1.86/kg).

This Charolais-cross bullock born August 2018 and weighing 405kg sold for €725 (€1.79/kg).

This Limousin-cross bullock born May 2017 and weighing 660kg sold for €1,110 (€1.68/kg).

Aged bullocks remain a hard sell, with ongoing difficulties in getting over-aged bullocks slaughtered.

Bullocks from 600kg to 700kg were a steady trade on last week, with most selling from €1,100/head to €1,230/head. Some Angus types made closer to €1,000/head.

This Charolais-cross bull born March 2018 and weighing 500kg sold for €945 (€1.89/kg).

This Limousin-cross bullock born May 2018 and weighing 450kg sold for €950 (€2.11/kg).

This Angus-cross bullock born March 2019 and weighing 420kg sold for €825 (€1.96/kg).

Stores from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €1,000/head to €1,155/head for good-quality continentals, with top-quality types selling to over €1,200/head. Stores from 400kg to 500kg sold mainly from €1,000 to €1,150/head. There were a few bullocks under 400kg on offer, which sold from €740/head to €885/head.

This Charolais-cross heifer born July 2018 and weighing 415kg sold for €720 (€1.73/kg).

This Limousin-cross heifer born May 2018 and weighing 480kg sold for €960 (€2.00/kg).

This Angus-cross heifer born May 2017 and weighing 615kg sold for €1,085 (€1.76/kg).

This Charolais-cross heifer born March 2018 and weighing 420kg sold for €810 (€1.93/kg).

This Charolais-cross heifer born March 2018 and weighing 530kg sold for €1,075 (€2.03/kg).

Heifers over 600kg sold mainly from €1,000/head to €1,400/head for top-quality types. Stores from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €1,000/head to €1,100/head, with some making over €1,150/head. Again, the better-quality cattle were easiest sold, with the plainer types a slower sell.

Store heifers from 400kg to 500kg were not as strong as forward types, with prices ranging from €800/head to €950/head for average-quality types. Top-quality heifers sold for over €1,075/head. Weanling heifers from 300kg to 400kg sold from €620/head to €780/head with quality a major factor influencing prices.

This Angus-cross cow born 2010 and weighing 585kg sold for €700 (€1.20/kg).

This Limousin-cross cow born 2016 and weighing 650kg sold for €1,100 (€1.69/kg).

Heavy fleshed cows were a good trade at the top of the market with, some cows over 850kg selling from €1,290/head to €1,430/head or from €1.50/kg to near €1.60/kg.

Most cull cows over 700kg sold for around €1,000/head on average for good-quality types, with older cows selling from €800/head upwards.

Cows from 600kg to 700kg sold mainly from €775/head to €965/head.

Read more

Ringside Comment: BPS payments helping store prices

What's on in the marts in the coming weeks

Camera at the Mart: weanling bulls a strong trade at Ballymote