Mart Report: Dry cows to €2,420 & sucklers to €2,360 in Balla – Hannon

Farming News/Mart Reports – Aurivo Balla Mart – Cattle Prices – 19-08-2023

According to Stephen Hannon, cattle numbers were “slightly up” on the previous week’s entry at Aurivo Balla Mart on Saturday, August 19^th, 2023, with just over 500 head crossing the scales in three rings.

The manager of Aurivo Marts and the manager of Balla Mart reported that northern buyers were active in all rings – bullocks, heifers and cull cows – at its most recent sale.

Bullocks hit €2,230, heifers topped at €2,180, sucklers sold to €2,360 and dry cows topped at €2,420.

Prices for heavier bullocks ranged from €2.60 to 3.00/kg.

Bullocks 300kg to 400kg averaged 2.85/kg, while store bullocks in the 400kg to 500kg weight bracket levelled at €2.87/kg, while heavier types north of 500kg sold for €2.70/kg of an average.

He explained: “Quality, heavy bullocks 700kg+ were making up to €1,300 with the weight.”

“The best of the heavy bullocks were bought by northern factory buyers.”

“A super CHX bullock weighing 435kg made €1,500 or €3.45/kg, while another lighter bullock weighing 340kg made €1,100, while a heavier type, a CHX, born in April 2021, weighing in at 735kg, sold for €2,230 and went north,” Hannon added.

• AAX – 500kgs – €1,310;
• LMX – 610kgs – €1,640;
• AAX – 635kgs – €1,600;
• LMX – 510kgs – €1,280;
• LMX – 605kgs – €1,550;
• CHX – 560kgs – €1,490;
• SIX – 675kgs – €1,670;
• CHX – 510kgs – €1,600;
• CHX – 640kgs – €1,690;
• AAX – 680kgs – €1,640;
• LMX – 520kgs – €1,400;
• SIX – 525kgs – €1,360;
• LMX – 500kgs – €1,420;
• LMX – 510kgs – €1,240;
• AAX – 565kgs – €1,200;
• CHX – 615kgs – €1,600;
• LMX – 695kgs – €1,800;
• CHX – 665kgs – €1,810.

Heifer prices

In ring two, just over 250 heifers came under the hammer and prices were “up” on the previous week, according to Hannon’s report.

“Lighter store heifers 300-400kg were selling well and they averaged €2.83/kg. Heifers 400kg to 500kg levelled at €2.84/kg, while those 500kg+ averaged €2.82/kg.”

“There were some fine heifers on offer that made over the 3.00 /kg. There was a Charolais weighing 390kg that made €1,850 or €4.74/kg.”

“Another 380kg Limousin made €1,280 or €3.39/kg from a local Balla farmer and a heavier BBX 700kg heifer made €2,180 or €3.11/kg.”

“She was sold by a farmer from Ballyglass, who had some cattle that were suitable for northern buyers, and all made over the €3.10/kg.”

• CHX – 525kgs – €1,390;
• CHX – 485kgs – €1,310;
• CHX – 665kgs – €1,810;
• CHX – 615kgs – €1,690;
• CHX – 600kgs – €1,690;
• BBX – 515kgs – €1,640;
• AAX – 640kgs – €1,570;
• AAX – 620kgs – €1,500;
• LMX – 450kgs – €1,090;
• CHX – 620kgs – €1,650;
• CHX – 395kgs – €1,290;
• CHX – 665kgs – €1,820;
• CHX – 670kgs – €1,750.

Dry cows

Meanwhile, according to Hannon, dry cows generally ranged from €2.40 to €2.70/kg with prices “remaining firm” on the back of local, northern, and online activity.

Top of the town was an 895kg Charolais cow at made €2,420 or €2.70/kg that was snapped up by a northern customer.

• LM – 745kgs – €1,930;
• FR – 580kgs – €680;
• FR – 635kgs – €780;
• CH – 755kgs – €1,500;
• BBX – 735kgs – €1,880;
• CHX – 660kgs – €1,600;
• CHX – 610kgs – €1,410;
• LMX – 750kgs – €1,920;
• SAX – 640kgs – €1,500;
• SIX – 585kgs – €1,130;
• LMX – 605kgs – €1,430;
• LMX – 610kgs – €1,570.

Sucklers

In the suckler ring, a LMX cow out of a RM dam and born in July 2016, with her LMX bull calf at foot, born in July 2023, with a combined weight of 820kgs, made €2,360.

Bull prices:

• LM – 16-02-2019 – 800kgs – €1,700;
• LMX – 05-02-2020 – 795kgs – €1,530;
• CHX – 18-04-2012 – 855kgs – €1,570.

Upcoming sales at Aurivo Balla Mart, Co Mayo:

• Special feeding heifer sale – Saturday, September 2^nd, 2023;
• Special show/sale of weanlings – Tuesday, September 5^th, 2023 – Tuesday sales thereafter at 10:30am;
• Special bullock sale – Saturday, September 9^th;
• Special breeding heifer sale – Saturday, September 16^th, 2023;
• End of month continental sale of bullocks and heifers – Saturday, September 30^th, 2023.

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 (seasonal). Bullocks, heifers, cull cows, sucklers, and stock bulls on Saturdays.

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.