VIDS: Trade ‘far from icy’ in Balla as weanling heifers hit highs of €7.16/kg

Balla Mart – Cattle Prices – 17-12-2022

Sub-zero weather conditions drove a small entry of circa 70 lots to Aurivo Balla Mart but failed to hamper trade on Saturday, December 17^th, 2022,

Despite one ring in operation, unlike three as initially scheduled, a strong demand prevailed across the board for all categories at the west of Ireland-based mart’s final sale of the year.

One of the key highlights of the sale came in the form of breeding-type weanling heifers with Belgian Blue influence.

Leading the charge at €2,420 (€6.91/kg) was an April-2022-born 350kg Belgian Blue cross, out of Dovea Genetics’ popular red gene-carrying bull, BB4438.

From the same stable and attaining a higher price per kg of €7.16/kg was an MNZ (also another Dovea Genetics bull) daughter out of a Limousin dam, which was born in April, crossed the scales at 335kgs and changed hands for €2,400.

The third and final lot from this Shrule-based farmer was an April-born Ivor (LM2014 – another Dovea Genetics sire), which weighed 285kgs and found a new home at €1,900 or €6.66/kg.

We have included videos of these heifers at the bottom of our report.

Balla Mart 17-12-2022 

Other sample prices from the heifer ring:

• LMX – 475kgs – €1,280;
• LMX – 530kgs – €1,590;
• LMX – 450kgs – €1,160;
• LMX – 450kgs – €1,400;
• SHX – 295kgs – €710;
• LMX – 335kgs – €850;
• LMX – 315kgs – €1,010;
• LMX – 355kgs – €1,510;
• LMX – 240kgs – €1,030;
• CHX – 245kgs – €560;
• HEX – 465kgs – €950;
• BAX – 470kgs – €1,350;
• LMX – 265kgs – €800.

Bullock prices:

• CHX 495kgs – €1,300;
• CHX – 475kgs – €1,400;
• LMX – 515kgs – €1,440;
• SIX – 495kgs – €1,510;
• AAX – 565kgs – €1,630;
• AAX – 585kgs – €1,530;
• HEX – 485kgs – €1,480;
• CHX – 385kgs – €1,230;
• CH – 540kgs – €1,550;
• AAX – 625kgs – €1,580;
• AAX – 590kgs – €1,600;
• AAX – 670kgs – €1,830;
• AAX – 730kgs – €2,130 (33 months, QA);
• CHX – 720kgs – €2,170;
• LMX – 685kgs – €1,680.

Bull weanlings:

• LMX – 345kgs – €940;
• AAX – 280kgs – €830;
• LMX – 295kgs – €900;
• CHX – 315kgs – €980;
• CHX – 270kgs – €890;
• LMX – 320kgs – €860;
• CHX – 310kgs – €780;
• LMX – 285kgs – €820.

Dry cow prices:

• LMX – 605kgs – €1,390;
• AAX – 590kgs – €1,330;

• SIX – 600kgs – €850;
• AAX – 590kgs – €1,330;
• SAX – 635kgs – €1,480;
• CH – 835kgs – €2,110;
• CH – 800kgs – €2,000;
• LMX – 650kgs – €1,500;
• CHX – 730kgs – €1,660;
• CH – 780kgs – €1,960.

Suckler pairs:

• May-2020-born AAX cow with a 7-month-old LMX heifer calf at foot – €1,820;
• April-2020-born CHX cow with a 5-month-old LMX bull calf at foot – €1,870.

€2,420

€2,400 

€1,900 

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.