Heifers to €2,980 and springers to €2,850 at Balla Mart

Balla Mart – Cattle Prices – 12-11-2022

According to Stephen Hannon, prices reached €2,980 in the maiden heifer ring, while in-calf heifers topped out at €2,850, bullocks hit €1,860 and cull cows soared to €2,130 at Balla Mart on Saturday, November 12^th, 2022.

The manager of Balla Mart and general manager of Aurivo Marts reported that some 900 lots passed through three rings at its most recent sale.

Commenting following the sale, he said: “It was a great trade with buyers commenting how dear cattle were.”
“There were two farmers with special sales of in-calf heifers, and they met with what can only be described as an outstanding trade.”

“A lot of farmers were looking for BDGP-eligible animals with stars. There was one 720kg April-2020-born LMX due in January to the AI Limousin bull, EBY, and she topped this category at €2,850.”

Bullock prices

In ring one, store bullocks 400kg to 500kg averaged 2.74/kg, while heavier types, 500kg+, levelled at €2.71/kg.”

Hannon remarked: “There were some fine bullocks, especially some heavy continental Charolais types. Top of the charts in this ring was a CHX, weighing 685kg at €1,860 or €2.72/kg.”

• CHX – 795kgs – €1,480;
• BBX – 530kgs – €1,310;
• LMX – 630kgs – €1,530;
• LMX – 660kgs – €1,850;
• CHX – 400kgs – €1,180;
• CHX – 625kgs – €1,650;
• CHX – 800kgs – €1,800;
• CHX – 645kgs – €1,600;
• CHX – 610kgs – €1,550;
• CH – 630kgs – €1,540;
• CHX – 605kgs – €1,640;
• AAX – 590kgs – €1,360;
• LMX – 535kgs – €1,100;
• LMX – 510kgs – €1,400;
• LMX – 600kgs – €1,640;
• BBX – 550kgs – €1,490;
• SIX – 435kgs – €1,170;
• HE – 420kgs – €930;
• PTX – 405kgs – €1,020;
• AAX – 630kgs – €1,500;
• LMX – 570kgs – €1,460;
• CHX – 630kgs – €1,600;
• CH – 580kgs – €1,590;
• LMX – 585kgs – €1,580.

Heifer prices

According to Hannon, just over 350 lots crossed the scales in the heifer ring, with entries up to 400 kg averaging €2.61/kg.

Heifers 400kg to 500kg levelled at €2.64/kg, while heavy types 500+ sold for over €2.80/kg of an average.

Hannon commented: “The best, a BBX heifer weighing 665kg, made €2,980 or €4.48/kg, which an Irishtown farmer sold. Her stable mater, a LMX heifer weighing 585kg, changed hands for €1,960.”

• AAX – 550kgs – €1,320;
• CHX – 530kgs – €1,460;
• LMX – 555kgs – €1,310;
• BBX – 665kgs – €2,980;
• CHX – 485kgs – €1,000;
• LM – 435kgs – €1,120;
• CHX – 505kgs – €1,380;
• CHX – 715kgs – €2,070;
• LMX – 450kgs – €1,160;
• CHX – 500kgs – €1,370;
• CHX – 520kgs – €1,420;
• BBX – 445kgs – €1,470;
• FR – 590kgs – €1,100;
• CHX – 535kgs – €1,390;
• AAX – 525kgs – €1,240;
• CHX – 605kgs – €1,910;
• LMX – 585kgs – €1,630;
• CHX – 660kgs – €1,770;
• AAX – 500kgs – €1,180;
• LMX – 520kgs – €1,180;
• CHX – 585kgs – €1,540;
• BBX – 480kgs – €1,220.

Cull cows

Meanwhile, in ring three, prices were “strong” for cull cows on the back of activity from weekly ringside buyers, coupled with a blend of northern and online activity.

• LM – 715kgs – €1,780;
• CH – 650kgs – €1,280;
• BBX – 675kgs – €1,370;
• HEX – 660kgs – €1,210;
• BBX – 690kgs – €1,530;
• BBX – 755kgs – €1,700;
• AAX – 780kgs – €1,660;
• SH – 575kgs – €1,070;
• BBX – 530kgs – €740;
• AA – 880kgs – €1,970;
• AA – 775kgs – €1,670;
• HEX – 560kgs – €1,000;
• LMX – 740kgs – €1,800;

• SAX – 545kgs – €1,070;
• CHX – 610kgs – €1,650;
• LM – 685kgs – €1,520;
• LMX – 720kgs – €1,490;
• CHX – 775kgs – €1,760;
• FR – 705kgs – €1,230;
• AU – 790kgs – €1,840;
• SI – 550kgs – €900.

Balla Mart information:

• Address: Aurivo Balla Mart, Carrowntober, Oughter, Co. Mayo
• Contact information: Phone: 094-9365068 or see Aurivo’s website.
• Sale days: Weanlings: Tuesdays. Bullocks, heifers, cull cows, sucklers, and stock bulls on Saturdays with rings as follows:
• 1: Bullocks at 10:30 am Saturday ringside and online.
• 2: Heifers at 10:30 am Saturday ringside and online
• 3: Dry cows/breeding bulls & springers at 10:45 am/11 am ringside and online.

Tuesday weanling sales (Certain times of year):

• Ring 1: Bull weanlings at 10:30 am Tuesday ringside and online.
• Ring 2: Heifer weanlings at 10:45 am Tuesday ringside and online.
• Intake time 07:00 am to 09:30 am on Saturdays. 08:00 am to 09:30 am on Tuesdays.

Further reading

• That’s Farming previously profiled Stephen Hannon, general manager of Aurivo Marts and manager of Balla Mart – Read this article with Stephen Hannon.

Mart reports

• Read more mart reports(cattle and sheep prices) on That’s Farming.