Tullamore Farm held its annual draft heifer sale on Wednesday 27 October in Central Auctions, Roscrea, Co Tipperary.

The sale included 20 in-calf heifers and four maiden heifers. The average sale price of the in-calf heifers was €2,070/head, up €500 on last year's average.

The top price achieved was €2,600, which was hit twice with two heifers. The average price of the four maiden heifers was €1,177/head. The sale achieved a 100% clearance.

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Most heifers were genotyped four- or five-star on the replacement index and are eligible for the BDGP scheme.

All heifers were spring 2020-born, with most sired by AI sires such as Tomschoice Ironstone, FSZ, ZAG, QCD, Ewdenvale Ivor, Ulsan and Curaheen Earp.

Heifers

Heifers have been bred to calve at two years of age in January, February and March 2022 and were in-calf to LM2014, EBY, Ulsan and a Salers stock bull. All heifers were scanned in-calf, with dates for AI and natural service.

The average replacement index of the group was €154.

Roscrea Mart manager Michael Harty said: “In general, suckler replacement stock have been a very good trade over the last few months.

There will likely be a few suckler dispersal sales in the coming weeks

"Top-quality weanlings have been a great trade and there is good confidence in the suckler sector at the moment."

Harty suggested that there will likely be a few suckler dispersal sales in the coming weeks.

“We have seen in other years when the BDGP deadline is over farmers generally take that opportunity to offload cows or get out altogether."

Commenting on the general cattle trade, he said that plain cattle are back a little in the last two weeks.

“Some of the bigger buyers seem to be pretty much full for the moment so we have seen some of the dairy cross stock back a little. Cows are also a little easier.

"Factory quotes for poorer quality cows have eased back a little, especially in the south and that had meant that the trade has also eased a little.

"Good-quality forward store cattle and factory-fit cattle remain the best trade of all, with agents and factories still active for short-keep or immediate kill cattle.”

In pictures

This February 2020 heifer by Curaheen Earp. Time up to LM2014 on 17 January 2022. She sold for €1,950.

This February 2020 heifer by Curaheen Earp. Time up on 17 January to LM2014. She sold for €1,750.

This March 2020 born heifer by Tomschoice Ironstone and in calf to SA2189. Time up 19 January 2022. She sold for €1,900.

This March 2020 born heifer by Ewdenvale Ivor. Time up to Salers stock bull on 16 February 2022. She sold for €1,750.

This March 2020 born heifer by Fiston and in calf to SA2189. Time up 23 January 2022. She sold for €2,000.

This February 2020 born heifer by Cloondroon Calling. Time up on 21 January 2022 to EBY. She sold for €2,250.

This March 2020 born heifer by Tomschoice Ironstone and in calf to Salers stock bull. Time up 8 February 2022. She sold for €2,050.

This March 2020 born heifer by EBY and in calf to Salers stock bull. Time up 20 March 2022. She sold for €2,000.

This March 2020 born heifer by Fiston, in calf to Salers stock bull. Time up 6 March 2022. She sold for €1,960.

This February 2020 born heifer is by Dereen Declan. Time up on 1 February 2022 to Salers stock bull. She sold for €2,350.

This February 2020 born heifer is by Cloodroon calling out of a Sunville Tritan cow. Time up on 5 February 2022 to EBY. She sold for €2,540.

This March 2020 born heifer is by Cloodroon Calling. Time up on 25 January to EBY. She sold for €2,090.

This February 2020 born heifer is by ZAG. Time up on 20 March to Salers stock bull. She sold for €2,050.

This February 2020 born heifer is by Derreen Declan. Time up to SA2189 on 18 January 2022. She sold for €2,560.

This March 2020 born heifer is by Cloodroon Calling and time up to Salers stock bull on 15 February 2022. She sold for €2,600.