Wet weather in the northwest has forced a lot of farmers to house a little earlier than expected. It has also meant weanlings have started to move a lot quicker to local sales, with over 500 weanlings for sale in Carrigallen on Saturday.
Following on from last week's good weanling bull sale, this week it was the turn of the heifers and they didn't disappoint.
While trade for lower-quality heifers has definitely taken a dip, trade for the top-quality continental heifer calf was on a par with 2018 levels.
Heifer on left was a March 2019 heifer weighing 335kg and sold for €1,065. Heifer on right was a March 2019 heifer weighing 350kg and made €1,000.
The average price for heifer calves in the 300kg to 400kg bracket was around €2.40/kg, with a few exceptional prices for potential show teams in 2020.
The champion heifer calf was a 325kg Charolais-cross weighing 325kg and was knocked down at €1,210.
This March-born heifer was tapped out as champion, weighed 325kg and sold for €1,210.
The stand-out price of the day went to a March 2019-born Limousin heifer by the popular Eurogene AI sire Lennon Breezer and out of a Charolais cow weighing 320kg. She was sold to a Northern Ireland customer at €1,850 or €5.78/kg.
Other top prices included €1,260 for a 295kg Belgian Blue-cross heifer and €1,300 for a 350kg Limousin-cross.
This heifer weighed 480kg and was withdrawn unsold.
Another March 2019-born Limousin heifer out of a Belgian Blue cow weighed 400kg and made €1,200.
Quality lighter heifers around the 270kg to 290kg mark averaged a little higher at €2.50/kg.
Heavier heifers were again a little harder to sell, but many were still hitting the €2.25/kg barrier and a few exceptional lots hitting the €3/kg mark.
This March 2019-born Limousin heifer out of a Belgian Blue cow weighed 400kg and made €1,200.
Bulls
Bulls were back on price on the previous week, but so was quality. The general run of bulls around the 350kg mark were hitting €2.25/kg or €780 to €800/head.
Exporters were active for lighter stock, with weanlings at 300kg making around the €720 mark.
Read more
Cattle prices: heifers a stronger trade than bulls at Dowra Mart
Mart prices: full sale yard in Ennis meets firm trade
All types a hard sell in Elphin Mart
Wet weather in the northwest has forced a lot of farmers to house a little earlier than expected. It has also meant weanlings have started to move a lot quicker to local sales, with over 500 weanlings for sale in Carrigallen on Saturday.
Following on from last week's good weanling bull sale, this week it was the turn of the heifers and they didn't disappoint.
While trade for lower-quality heifers has definitely taken a dip, trade for the top-quality continental heifer calf was on a par with 2018 levels.
Heifer on left was a March 2019 heifer weighing 335kg and sold for €1,065. Heifer on right was a March 2019 heifer weighing 350kg and made €1,000.
The average price for heifer calves in the 300kg to 400kg bracket was around €2.40/kg, with a few exceptional prices for potential show teams in 2020.
The champion heifer calf was a 325kg Charolais-cross weighing 325kg and was knocked down at €1,210.
This March-born heifer was tapped out as champion, weighed 325kg and sold for €1,210.
The stand-out price of the day went to a March 2019-born Limousin heifer by the popular Eurogene AI sire Lennon Breezer and out of a Charolais cow weighing 320kg. She was sold to a Northern Ireland customer at €1,850 or €5.78/kg.
Other top prices included €1,260 for a 295kg Belgian Blue-cross heifer and €1,300 for a 350kg Limousin-cross.
This heifer weighed 480kg and was withdrawn unsold.
Another March 2019-born Limousin heifer out of a Belgian Blue cow weighed 400kg and made €1,200.
Quality lighter heifers around the 270kg to 290kg mark averaged a little higher at €2.50/kg.
Heavier heifers were again a little harder to sell, but many were still hitting the €2.25/kg barrier and a few exceptional lots hitting the €3/kg mark.
This March 2019-born Limousin heifer out of a Belgian Blue cow weighed 400kg and made €1,200.
Bulls
Bulls were back on price on the previous week, but so was quality. The general run of bulls around the 350kg mark were hitting €2.25/kg or €780 to €800/head.
Exporters were active for lighter stock, with weanlings at 300kg making around the €720 mark.
Read more
Cattle prices: heifers a stronger trade than bulls at Dowra Mart
Mart prices: full sale yard in Ennis meets firm trade
All types a hard sell in Elphin Mart
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