This June 2024 born Belgian Blue cross heifer weighed 440kg and sold for €4400 (€10/kg).

Balla Mart held its weekly cattle sale on Saturday, with bullocks, bull weanlings, heifers and dry cows on offer.

There was great demand from buyers on the day, which helped to drive up prices for the top-quality cattle on offer.

A nice selection of breeding heifers was on offer. Lighter store heifers in the 300kg to 400kg weight bracket averaged €4.80/kg, with heifers in the 400kg to 500kg weight bracket averaging €4.56/kg. Heifers weighing 500kg-plus averaged €4.21/kg.

Standout lots among the heifers included a June 2024-born Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighing 440kg that sold for €4,400 (€10/kg).

The stylish red Belgian Blue-cross heifer was sired by Dovea Genetics’ Belgian Blue sire Negrita Du Lac BB8019.

Another standout lot included a 325kg Belgian Blue-cross heifer selling for €3,100 (€9.54/kg).

Bullocks

Bullocks in the 300kg to 400kg weight bracket averaged €4.22/kg.

Store bullocks between 400kg and 500kg averaged €4.50/kg. Bullocks weighing 500kg-plus averaged €4.23/kg. Standout prices included a 470kg Limousin-cross bullock selling for €2,480 (€5.28/kg).

Dry cows

There was a good turnout of dry cows on offer, with the vast majority being top-quality continental cows.

Dry cows weighing 500kg-plus averaged €3.72/kg, with the top-priced dry cow making €3,500.

Weanling bulls

Weanling bulls were a super trade, with strong demand being driven by export buyers for good-quality continental weanlings.

Weanling bulls between 200kg and 350kg averaged €5.23/kg, with bulls between 350kg and 450kg averaging €5.14/kg.

Standout lots included a 370kg Limousin-cross weanling bull selling for €2,470 (€6.68/kg) and a 545kg Belgian Blue-cross bull that sold for €2,700 (€4.95/kg).

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, mart manager Michael Nolan said: “Ringside prices are still outweighing factory prices.”

He also commented on how the demand from exporters is continuing to drive weanling prices, with record highs seen in the last few weeks.

Watch

This October 2024-born Belgian Blue-cross heifer weighed 325kg and sold for €3,100 (€9.54/kg).

This August 2024-born Belgian Blue-cross bull weighed 545kg and sold for €2,680 (€4.95/kg).

This April 2023-born Aberdeen Angus-cross cow with a heifer calf at foot sold for €2,720.

This April 2021-born Charolais-cross dry cow weighed 690kg and sold for €2,620 (€3.80/kg).

This June 2023-born Limousin-cross bullock weighed 525kg and sold for €2,570 (€4.90/kg).