Saturday’s sale in Balla saw one of the smallest entries of the year so far. There was only one ring in operation, and the yard was quiet.
With the current dry spell continuing, many feel that farmers, although tight on grass, are holding off selling cattle in a depressed trade.
Having that said, the better-quality cattle in the yard could not be described as a bad trade at all. There were plenty of buyers present for all better-quality continentals. However, clearance rates were lower for plainer quality cattle.
This Charolais-cross heifer, born January 2017 and weighing 440kg, sold for €1,045 (€2.38/kg).
The number of heavy bullocks on offer was low, like recent weeks, but where those over 500kg came to the fore the trade was quite strong, with prices of over €800 along with the weight paid for better-quality short-keep types.
Forward stores were a good trade also, where weights were over 500kg. These sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg for R grades and up to €2.40/kg at times for U grades.
Lighter stores from 400kg to 500kg were a more mixed trade and quality had a much greater effect on prices. Continentals sold mainly from 2.20/kg to €2.30/kg for good-quality R grades while U grades made from €2.35/kg to €2.50/kg. Plain stores were a harder sell.
This Charolais-cross heifer, born May 2017 and weighing 435kg, sold for €1,045 (€2.40/kg).
Heavy heifers were scarce, but on occasions those over 500kg did pass through the ring and were a good trade. Better-quality types made over €700 along with the weight, while plainer types were a little slower to sell. Store from 450kg to 550kg sold mainly from €1,050 to €1,200. Stores from 400kg to 500kg were a little more variable at times with quality having a major impact on price. R grade continental heifers sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg.
This Limousin-cross cow, born 2015 and weighing 555kg, sold for €1,070 (€1.93/kg).
The trade for cows with calves at foot was very strong again today. However, lighter and plainer feeding cows were met with weaker demand and prices. Better quality young cull cows sold from €1.80/kg to €1.95/kg but forward feeding cows were met with weaker demand than recent weeks and prices ranged mainly from €1.55/kg to €1.70/kg. There were only few Friesians on offer and these were a poor trade and struggled to make the weight where quality was poor.
Saturday’s sale in Balla saw one of the smallest entries of the year so far. There was only one ring in operation, and the yard was quiet.
With the current dry spell continuing, many feel that farmers, although tight on grass, are holding off selling cattle in a depressed trade.
Having that said, the better-quality cattle in the yard could not be described as a bad trade at all. There were plenty of buyers present for all better-quality continentals. However, clearance rates were lower for plainer quality cattle.
This Charolais-cross heifer, born January 2017 and weighing 440kg, sold for €1,045 (€2.38/kg).
The number of heavy bullocks on offer was low, like recent weeks, but where those over 500kg came to the fore the trade was quite strong, with prices of over €800 along with the weight paid for better-quality short-keep types.
Forward stores were a good trade also, where weights were over 500kg. These sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.30/kg for R grades and up to €2.40/kg at times for U grades.
Lighter stores from 400kg to 500kg were a more mixed trade and quality had a much greater effect on prices. Continentals sold mainly from 2.20/kg to €2.30/kg for good-quality R grades while U grades made from €2.35/kg to €2.50/kg. Plain stores were a harder sell.
This Charolais-cross heifer, born May 2017 and weighing 435kg, sold for €1,045 (€2.40/kg).
Heavy heifers were scarce, but on occasions those over 500kg did pass through the ring and were a good trade. Better-quality types made over €700 along with the weight, while plainer types were a little slower to sell. Store from 450kg to 550kg sold mainly from €1,050 to €1,200. Stores from 400kg to 500kg were a little more variable at times with quality having a major impact on price. R grade continental heifers sold mainly from €2.20/kg to €2.40/kg.
This Limousin-cross cow, born 2015 and weighing 555kg, sold for €1,070 (€1.93/kg).
The trade for cows with calves at foot was very strong again today. However, lighter and plainer feeding cows were met with weaker demand and prices. Better quality young cull cows sold from €1.80/kg to €1.95/kg but forward feeding cows were met with weaker demand than recent weeks and prices ranged mainly from €1.55/kg to €1.70/kg. There were only few Friesians on offer and these were a poor trade and struggled to make the weight where quality was poor.
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