The annual Salers heifer sale took place in Gort Mart, Co Galway, on Saturday. With over 200 crossbred heifers on offer and 26 pedigrees, the large crowd of buyers present had plenty of choice.

There was strong demand for well-grown maiden and in-calf heifers in both the crossbred and pedigree sections. There was particularly keen interest in quality lots that were true-to-type Salers, with most buyers mentioning calving ability as being one of their main desired traits.

In the pedigree section, weanlings averaged €1,040, with a top price of €1,200 for Ryan Griffith’s first-prizewinner Cashelard Ulsana. This heifer is out of Brownhall Ophealia and is by AI bull Ulsan.

Pedigree maidens averaged €1,550, with a top price of €2,150 for Glenmore Tennessee, a daughter of the renowned Rio, bred by Thomas Mulcahy, Co Limerick.

In the small in-calf section, Terence Sweeney received top price for his Whitebog Convener-sired heifer Ballyconneely Savannah. She fetched €2,400.

Nearly all females in the pedigree section were sold, recording an impressive clearance rate of 96%.

In the crossbred classes, weanlings averaged €750, with a top price of €1,100 for a 350kg heifer owned by Tom McGreal, Co Mayo.

There was a significant number of smaller, lighter weanling heifers in the sale, which is reflected in the average price. However, price per kg was good overall. Examples include two heifers weighing 255kg selling for €730, one at 320kg making €820 and three weighing 358kg fetching €900. Clearance rate was again very high at 92%.

The crossbred maiden heifers averaged €923. The top price here went to the 510kg first-prizewinner, which sold for €1,520. The in-calf commercial heifers averaged €1,350 and reached a high of €1,700 for a nice-quality 580kg heifer.

Strong, quality heifers were met with great demand, with buyers present from across the country, including Northern Ireland.

The October Salers heifer sale has become a key diary date for many farmers seeking quality replacement heifers. Indeed, many buyers at this year’s sale were repeat customers, testament to the quality and selection of Salers and Salers-cross heifers available at the Gort sale.