There were about 900 head of cattle again today at Balla Mart. The trade was a little better for in-spec heifers and light heifers. The bullock trade was reasonably steady, but aged cattle were met with a little weaker demand.
Top-quality heavy bullocks over 600kg sold to €1,500 or €1.86/kg. The majority of top-quality U grade heavy bullocks sold from €2.20/kg to €2.36/kg. Those from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg for average quality types while better quality R+ and U grades sold from €2.15/kg to €2.30/kg.
This Limousin-cross bullock, born April 2015 and weighing 440kg, sold for €1000 (€2.27/kg).
Where plainer dairy and Hereford cross bullocks were on offer, prices of €1.60/kg to €1.80/kg were more common and demand was mixed. Those from 400kg to 500kg were plentiful and sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg with the best-quality types making over €2.45/kg.
There were some plainer types on offer also which made from €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg. Light weanling bullocks under 300kg sold to €2.70/kg.
Bullocks that would be killed overage or that had very poor weight for age were met with weak demand and were slower to sell than last week.
In-spec heifers were a better trade than last week. Heifers over 600kg sold to a top price of €2.36/kg for a top-quality 615kg Limousin. Other good-quality heavy types sold from €1.86/kg to €2.15/kg.
Heifers
Heifers from 500kg to 600kg were more plentiful and sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg and up to €2.30/kg at the top of the market for U grades. Plainer heifers sold from €1.70/kg upwards.
Light heifers from 400kg to 500kg were a good trade also where the quality on offer was high. Prices averaged from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg and at the top of the trade prices went up to over €2.50/kg.
Light heifers under 400kg were a slightly improved trade and prices ranged mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.45/kg for good-quality types with the best quality heifers making up to €860 for 300kg.
Cull cows sold for close to €300 over the weight on average. The top well-muscled cows sold to over €700 over the weight, but the majority of good-quality feeding cows sold from €300 to €400 over the weight. Plain and old cows sold from €150 to €200 over.
This Charolais-cross heifer, born May 2016 and weighing 440kg, was bid to €700 but not sold (€1.60/kg).
This pair of Charolais-cross bullocks, born April 2017 and weighing 340kg, sold for €865 (€2.54/kg).
This Charolais-cross bullock, born March 2017 and weighing 370kg, sold for €910 (€2.46/kg).
This Charolais-cross bullock, born May 2017 and weighing 560kg, sold for €1,155 (€2.06/kg).
This Simmental-cross bullock, born June 2017 and weighing 485kg, sold for €1005 (€2.07/kg).
This Hereford-cross bullock, born April 2017 and weighing 540kg, sold for €865 (€1.60/kg).
This Charolais cross bullock, born July 2016 and weighing 490kg sold for €910 (€1.86/kg).
There were about 900 head of cattle again today at Balla Mart. The trade was a little better for in-spec heifers and light heifers. The bullock trade was reasonably steady, but aged cattle were met with a little weaker demand.
Top-quality heavy bullocks over 600kg sold to €1,500 or €1.86/kg. The majority of top-quality U grade heavy bullocks sold from €2.20/kg to €2.36/kg. Those from 500kg to 600kg sold mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg for average quality types while better quality R+ and U grades sold from €2.15/kg to €2.30/kg.
This Limousin-cross bullock, born April 2015 and weighing 440kg, sold for €1000 (€2.27/kg).
Where plainer dairy and Hereford cross bullocks were on offer, prices of €1.60/kg to €1.80/kg were more common and demand was mixed. Those from 400kg to 500kg were plentiful and sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.30/kg with the best-quality types making over €2.45/kg.
There were some plainer types on offer also which made from €1.80/kg to €1.90/kg. Light weanling bullocks under 300kg sold to €2.70/kg.
Bullocks that would be killed overage or that had very poor weight for age were met with weak demand and were slower to sell than last week.
In-spec heifers were a better trade than last week. Heifers over 600kg sold to a top price of €2.36/kg for a top-quality 615kg Limousin. Other good-quality heavy types sold from €1.86/kg to €2.15/kg.
Heifers
Heifers from 500kg to 600kg were more plentiful and sold mainly from €2.10/kg to €2.20/kg and up to €2.30/kg at the top of the market for U grades. Plainer heifers sold from €1.70/kg upwards.
Light heifers from 400kg to 500kg were a good trade also where the quality on offer was high. Prices averaged from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg and at the top of the trade prices went up to over €2.50/kg.
Light heifers under 400kg were a slightly improved trade and prices ranged mainly from €2.30/kg to €2.45/kg for good-quality types with the best quality heifers making up to €860 for 300kg.
Cull cows sold for close to €300 over the weight on average. The top well-muscled cows sold to over €700 over the weight, but the majority of good-quality feeding cows sold from €300 to €400 over the weight. Plain and old cows sold from €150 to €200 over.
This Charolais-cross heifer, born May 2016 and weighing 440kg, was bid to €700 but not sold (€1.60/kg).
This pair of Charolais-cross bullocks, born April 2017 and weighing 340kg, sold for €865 (€2.54/kg).
This Charolais-cross bullock, born March 2017 and weighing 370kg, sold for €910 (€2.46/kg).
This Charolais-cross bullock, born May 2017 and weighing 560kg, sold for €1,155 (€2.06/kg).
This Simmental-cross bullock, born June 2017 and weighing 485kg, sold for €1005 (€2.07/kg).
This Hereford-cross bullock, born April 2017 and weighing 540kg, sold for €865 (€1.60/kg).
This Charolais cross bullock, born July 2016 and weighing 490kg sold for €910 (€1.86/kg).
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