Heifers to €3,870 (€10.46/kg) at Balla Mart

Balla Mart – Cattle Prices – 12-03-2022

According to Stephen Hannon, Balla Mart put an “exceptionally big”  cattle entry under the hammer on Saturday, March 12^th, 2022.

He cited a special breeding heifer sale as a key driver of entry numbers.

The manager of Balla Mart and general manager of Aurivo Marts outlined that forward stores and breeding cattle were a “very good trade”, but small, plainer types were a harder sell.

Balla Mart 12-03-2022:

Bullock prices:

According to Hannon, bullocks 300kg to 400kg averaged €2.82/kg, while store bullocks 400kg to 500kg levelled at €2.71/kg and heavier bullocks 500kg + averaged €2.71/kg.

The top price in this ring came in the form of an April-19-born Belgian Blue-cross, weighing 760kgs, at €2,430 or €3.20/kg.

• AAX – 815kgs – €2,070;
• LMX – 665kgs – €1,650;
• SIX – 630kgs – €1,560;
• CH – 490kgs – €1,470;
• LM – 690kgs – €2,050;
• LMX – 510kgs – €1,410;

• 1 LMX – 580kgs – €1,680;
• LMX – 605kgs – €1,710;
• CHX – 700kgs – €1,910;
• 1 CHX – 520kgs – €1,470;
• CHX – 610kgs – €1,700;
• LMX – 510kgs – €1,250;
• LMX – 690kgs – €2,090;
• CHX – 695kgs – €1,850;
• 1 CHX – 640kgs – €1,700;
• CHX – 650kgs – €1,670;
• 1 CHX – 610kgs – €1,500;
• CH – 715kgs – €1,960;
• CHX – 575kgs – €1,500;
• CHX – 590kgs – €1,680;
• AAX – 675kgs – €1,700

Heifer prices:

According to Hannon, some 600 lots passed through the heifer ring at its most recent general cattle sale.

He reported a “better trade” and added that “nice quality” animals met with a “great” trade.

He explained that heifers up to 400 kg improved and averaged €2.86/kg, while females in the 400kg to 500kg bracket levelled at €2.76/kg and females 500kgs averaged €2.78/kg.

The highest-priced lot in this ring and that of the entire sale was an April-2021-born Belgian Blue-cross, weighing 370kgs, at €3,870.

• LMX – 510kgs – €1,410;
• 1 LMX – 560kgs – €1,440;
• LMX – 495kgs – €1,260;
• LMX – 600kgs – €2,570;
• 1 LMX – 625kgs – €2,500;
• AAX – 605kgs – €1,800;
• AUX – 515kgs – €1,200;

• CHX – 620kgs – €1,600;
• LMX – 585kgs – €1,575;
• LMX – 520kgs – €1,360;
• LM – 585kgs – €1,670;
• AUX – 610kgs – €1,640;
• BBX – 535kgs – €1,620;
• LMX – 540kgs – €1,900;
• CHX – 610kgs – €1,640;
• 1 CHX – 580kgs – €1,460;
• CHX – 600kgs – €1,390;
• AAX – 600kgs – €1,600.

Cull cow prices:

Meanwhile, according to Hannon, Northern Irish and factory buyers were active at the mart’s general cattle sale on Saturday.

The top call in this ring was €2,510 for a January-2018-born Limousin, weighing 875kgs.

• SHX – 535kgs – €1,250;
• BBX – 875kgs – €2,060;
• FR – 665kgs – €1,200;
• AAX – 740kgs – €1,720;
• AAX – 740kgs – €1,720;
• CHX – 835kgs – €1,770;
• BBX – 605kgs – €1,260;
• SIX – 755kgs – €1,570;
• LMX – 675kgs – €1,660;
• FR – 665kgs – €1,200;
• LMX – 840kgs – €2,050;
• 1 LMX – 480kgs – €1,140;
• LMX – 680kgs – €1,760;
• BBX – 640kgs – €1,200;
• SA – 760kgs – €1,680;
• LMX – 625kgs – €1,660;
• FR – 535kgs – €890;
• FR – 505kgs – €790;
• CHX – 740kgs – €1,590.

Lastly, in the springer ring, an 825KG Charolais-cross due in March made €1,940.

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 (Subject to change). 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 11 am – ringside and online.

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.