Tuesday’s sheep sale at Ballymote Mart saw a very strong trade for all good-quality butchers and factory lambs.

There was a strong entry of close to 800 sheep on offer, with factory agents and butchers the main source of demand.

Mart manager Stephen Hannon said heavy butchers lambs over 50kg sold mainly from €110/head to €116/head, with top-quality types making up to €122/head or €2.14/kg. Those from 45kg to 50kg sold for about €105/head in general, with better-quality and heavier lambs making from €108/head to €111/head. Lambs around 45kg that were lacking a little in flesh sold mainly from €97/head to €100/head.

This pen of factory lambs weighing 49kg on average sold for €114 each (€2.33/kg)

This pen of butchers lambs weighing 51kg on average sold for €115 each (€2.25/kg)

This pen of factory lambs weighing 47.5kg on average sold for €106 each (€2.23/kg)

This pen of butchers lambs weighing 57kg on average sold for €122 each (€2.14/kg)

Those from 40kg to 45kg sold for about €95/head, with plainer and lighter types selling from €83/head to €85/head, while better-quality types made closer to €100/head. The number of store lambs on offer was low overall, but those from 35kg to 40kg sold mainly for just over €80/head, with plainer-quality stores making from €70/head to €72/head. Cull ewes sold from €78/head for feeding types to a top of €139/head.

Thursday’s cattle sale saw strong demand for forward cattle, stores and weanlings. Bullocks over 600kg sold mainly from €1,140/head to €1,310/head or €2.18/kg, which was paid for a top-quality 600kg Charolais.

Ths Charolais-cross bullock born April 2018 and weighing 470kg sold for €1,100 (€2.34/kg).

Bullocks over 500kg sold for €1.95/kg on average, with most good-quality continentals making over €2.00/kg. There were some Angus types on offer, which sold mainly from €1.66/kg to over €2.00/kg depending on quality. Stores from 400kg to 500kg were a strong trade and sold mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.10/kg. Top-quality U grades made from €2.30/kg to €2.40/kg.

Ths Limousin-cross bull born March 2019 and weighing 370kg sold for €930 (€2.51/kg).

This Limousin-cross bull born June 2019 and weighing 220kg sold for €680 (€3.10/kg)

Ths Limousin-cross bull born May 2019 and weighing 360kg sold for €910 (€2.53/kg).

Weanling bulls over 400kg were a middling trade and sold from €1.77/kg to €2.18/kg. Bulls from 300kg to 400kg were a strong trade once again, with plenty of buyers present. These sold mainly from €700/head to €800/head, with plenty of good-quality bulls making over €900/head. Likewise, plain Angus types sold from €500/head to €650/head. Bulls under 300kg sold for just over €600/head in general and to over €3.00/kg at the top of the market.

Heifers were a stronger trade than bulls. The average 350kg heifer sold for around €2.20/kg, with top-quality types making over €2.50/kg. Plain calves sold from €540/head to €680/head. Those under 300kg generally sold for just over €2.40/kg, with some top-quality heifers breaking the €3.00/kg mark.

There were about 30 store heifers on offer which again were a strong trade. Heifers over 550kg sold mainly from €1,100/head to €1,260/head. Those from 450kg to 550kg sold mainly from €910/head to €1,100/head. Heifers under 450kg sold from €600/head to €880/head.

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