This September 2024-born Belgian Blue heifer weanling weighed 330kg and sold for €4,150 (€12.58/kg)

Weanlings continue to be a super trade in marts across the country.

Balla Mart on Saturday was no exception with farmers and exporters battling it out for the small number of weanlings on offer.

As with other marts around the country summer sales are getting smaller with just under 500 cattle through the ring at Saturday’s sale.

The top third of weanling bulls met very good demand with the price coming in at €5.85/kg for bull weanlings in the 300-400kg weight bracket.

Average-quality weanlings in the same weight bracket came in at €5.28/kg. It was a similar story in the weanling heifer ring with the top third of heifer weanlings in the 300-400kg weight bracket coming in just under €6/kg at €5.96/kg this week.

Top call in the heifer weanling section and the sale went to a September 2024-born Belgian Blue heifer sired by the Dovea Genetics AI sire An de Beauffaux (BB4438).

Heavy bullocks and heifers were a little easier trade when compared to the previous week with factory price reductions filtering through to the mart trade in the last 2 weeks.

That being said, heavy bullocks and heifers still met a very solid trade with factory agents being the main driver of the trade. Top call went to a March 2022-born Charolais bullock weighing 925kg and selling for €3,930 (€4.25/kg).

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal Balla Mart manager Michael Nolan said: “Exporters continue to drive the weanling trade with some big money continuing to be paid for lighter weanlings.

"Heavy cattle were back a little but not as much as they are back in the factories with the mart trade holding better. Dry cows also continue to be met with good demand with over €4/kg being paid for some of the top cows on Saturday."

This March 2022-born Charolais bullock weighed 925kg and sold for €3,930 (€4.25/kg).

This November 2020-born Limousin heifer weighed 825kg and sold for €3,780 (€4.37/kg).

This June 2022-born Charolais bullock weighed 895kg and sold for €3,730 (€4.17/kg).

This March 2024-born Belgian Blue bullock weighed 485kg and sold for €3,600 (€7.42/kg)

Suckler outfits also met good demand with a top price of €3,720 paid or a 2017 born suckler cow with her 3 month old bull calf at foot.

This Hereford cross 2017-born suckler cow sold with her 3 month old Charolais bull calf at foot for €3,720.

This Simmental cross 2016-born cow sold with her 2 month old Charolais bull calf at foot sold for €2,800.