Report: Suckler pair tops at €3,240 in Balla Mart

Aurivo Balla Mart – Cattle Prices – Mart Report – 30-09-2023

According to Stephen Hannon, Saturday’s sale (September 30^th, 2023), at Balla Mart saw the largest entry of cattle so far this year, with three rings in operation.

The general cattle sale, which was held in conjunction with its end-of-month continental sale, attracted a large entry of predominately well-fleshed beef and forward stores across all categories – bullocks, heifers, and cull cows.

Bullocks 300kg to 400kg averaged €2.77/kg, while stores 400kg to 500kg levelled at €2.90/kg and heavier bullocks 500kg+ sold for €2.81/kg of an average.

Quality, heavy bullocks 700kg+ made between €1,350 to €1,550 with the weight, many of which were snapped up by northern factory buyers.

Hannon commented: “A CHX bullock weighing 365kg made €1,330.00 which is €3.65/kg, while a heavier example, weighing 800kg, a CHX, made €2,360 or €2.95/kg and another CHX bullock 765kg made €2,290 or €2.99/kg.”

• AAX – 575kgs – €1,900;
• LMX – 440kgs – €1,310;
• LMX – 505kgs – €1,180;
• CHX – 745kgs – €1,820;
• LMX – 735kgs – €2,030;
• LMX – 725kgs – €2,070;
• LMX – 780kgs – €1,930;
• LMX – 775kgs – €2,070;
• LMX – 640kgs – €1,530;
• CHX – 675kgs – €1,880;
• CHX – 600kgs – €1,400;
• LMX – 580kgs – €1,520;
• LMX – 690kgs – €1,940;
• LMX – 615kgs – €1,600;
• LMX – 555kgs – €1,470.

Heifers

According to Hannon, “there were some outstanding heifers in the yard the prices of which were helped by the demand from northern buyers and certain farmers looking for breeding stock”.

Lighter store heifers 300 – 400kg averaged €2.77/kg, while heifers 400kg to 500kg averaged E2.90/kg and those north of 500kg+ sold for €2.80/kg of an average.

Hannon noted that “there were some fine heifers on offer and the tops made from €3.50 to €4.50/kg, depending on quality.”

“A Belgian Blue weighing 400kg made €2,220 or €5.55/kg, while a Limousin heifer 520kg sold for €2,180 or €4.19/kg,” he added.

• CHX – 475kgs – €1,490;
• CHX – 510kgs – €1,660;
• LMX – 475kgs – €1,480;
• CHX – 520kgs – €1,380;
• CHX – 515kgs – €1,380;
• CHX – 500kgs – €1,570;
• CHX – 490kgs – €1,270;
• CHX – 510kgs – €1,590;
• HEX – 525kgs – €1,160;
• BBX – 395kgs – €1,110;
• LM – 505kgs – €1,560;
• LMX – 475kgs – €1,370;
• BBX – 500kgs – €1,530;
• CHX – 460kgs – €1,300;
• CH – 535kgs – €1,660;
• CHX – 515kgs – €1,420;
• BBX – 720kgs – €2,100 – 38 months – €2.92/kg;
• SIX – 590kgs – €1,420.

Dry cows

The mart manager noted that just over 120 lots of dry cows sold for mainly between €2.40-€2.82/kg with a top call of €2,550 for a 1,045 kg Limousin-cross.

• FR – 695kgs – €1,240;
• FR- 690kgs – €1,250;
• CH – 830kgs – €2,140;
• CHX – 725kgs – €1,570;
• BBX – 775kgs – €1,730;
• AU – 675kgs – €1,550;
• AAX – 650kgs – €1,430;
• SIX – 630kgs – €1,030;
• SIX – 745kgs – €1,710;
• CHX – 785kgs – €1,740;
• SIX – 860kgs – €1,640;
• LM – 790kgs – €2,230;
• CHX – 740kgs – €1,430;
• MYX – 600kgs – €1,010;
• PTX – 770kgs – €1,790;
• BBX – 635kgs – €1,340;
• LMX – 860kgs – €1,890;
• LMX – 725kgs – €1,630.

Sucklers

In the suckler ring, a top call of €3,240 was recorded for a Limousin-cross cow (not in-calf again), out of a Limousin-cross dam herself, born in April 2019, which sold with her Fury Action Charolais heifer calf, born in April 2023 and weighed a combined 885kgs.