Today’s sale at Headford Mart saw a special weanling sale take place in conjunction with the usual sale. The special autumn-born weanling sale saw a good number of high-quality weanlings on offer which were met with a good trade. However, the focus was on quality, with some of the plainer weanlings going unsold.

The entry of bullocks saw prices range from €1.42/kg to a top of €2.61/kg, with the majority of continentals making from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg. Plainer cattle and those from a dairy background continue to be a slower sell, with less demand for these.

This Belgian Blue-cross bull, born Novmeber 2017 and weighing 380kg, was bid to €1,080 but not sold (€2.84/kg).

The heifer sale saw prices range mainly from €2.00/kg to €2.40/kg for average-quality continentals, while top-quality heifers sold to a top price of €745 along with the weight which was paid for a 635kg Charolais.

The weanling bull prize winners went to Denis Naughton, Shrule, Dunmore, Co Galway, whose bull won first prize. This Belgian Blue bull weighed 500kg in the ring and was bid to €1,400 but was not sold.

The second prize went to the Reilly Ladies, Beaghmore, Belclare, Tuam, and their bull was another Belgian Blue, weighing 380kg and sold for €1,100.

The main sale of weanling bulls saw prices range from €365 over to €900 over the weight. Quality was key when it came to prices with the better-quality 320kg to 360kg bulls making from €800 to €900, while those with a lot of muscle or suitable for feeding sold from €1,000 to €1,100.

This pair of Belgian Blue-cross heifers, born February 2017 and weighing 390kg on average, sold for €800 each (€2.05/kg).

Weanling heifers saw prices range mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.60/kg with top-quality heifers making over €2.80/kg. The highest price was a 360kg Limousin which made €1,010 or €2.81/kg.

The cull cow sale saw prices range from €1,030 to €1,300, while suckler cows sold from €1,060 to €1,200.

This Charolais-cross bull, born November 2017 and weighing 470kg, sold for €1,040 (€2.21/kg).