VIDEOS: Cull cows skyrocket to €2,860 & heifers soar to €2,700 at Balla Mart

Balla Mart Report – Cattle Prices – 11-02-2023

According to Stephen Hannon, prices continued to improve at Balla Mart’s weekly cattle sale on Saturday, February 11th, 2023.

The general manager of Aurivo Marts and manager of Balla Mart reported that “a lot of cattle have come out for sale earlier than usual in recent weeks”. 

At Saturday’s sale, prices reached €2,500 for bullocks, while pairs shot to €2,800, heifers climbed to €2,700 and cull cows pushed up to €2,860. 

Read a previous article on That’s Farming with a list of dates for Balla Mart’s upcoming special weanling sales. 

Bullock prices: 

According to Hannon, bullocks 300kg to 400kg averaged €3.23/kg, while stores in the 400kg to 500kg leveled at €3.13/kg, and heavier types north of 500kgs averaged €3.06/kg.

Hannon commented: “Quality heavy bullocks 700kg+ were making €3.10/kg+ or €1600 to €1700 over the kg, due to northern, feedlot and online buyers. A top call of €2,500 or €1,700 with the kg was recorded for an 800kgs Charolais-cross in this ring.” 

• GAX – 465kgs – €1,340;
• CHX – 565kgs – €1,740;
• CHX – 760kgs – €2,390;
• CHX – 595kgs – €1,710;
• LMX – 625kgs – €1,620;
• LMX – 620kgs – €1,690;
• AAX – 655kgs – €1,680;
• LMX – 700kgs – €2,190;
• CHX – 525kgs – €1,600;
• AAX – 400kgs – €1,170;
• CHX – 610kgs – €1,940;
• LMX – 585kgs – €1,890;
• CHX – 700kgs – €2,150;
• CHX – 740kgs – €2,200;
• CHX – 610kgs – €2,010;
• LMX – 625kgs – €1,990;
• AUX – 615kgs – €1,800;
• CHX – 605kgs – €1,750. 

Heifer prices:

According to Hannon, in ring two, heifers 400 kg averaged €3.16 /kg, while those 400kg to 500kg leveled at €3.01/kg and entries 500kg averaged €3.06/kg. 

Top of the town in this category was a Limousin-cross heifer, weighing 800kg, which made €2,700. 

• CHX – 635kgs – €1,920;
• SAX – 575kgs – €1,780;
• LMX – 540kgs – €1,740;
• LMX – 550kgs – €1,410;
• CHX – 605kgs – €1,700;
• CHX – 615kgs – €1,600;
• SIX – 470kgs – €1,250;
• CHX – 505kgs – €1,360;
• BAX – 495kgs – €1,600;
• SIX – 570kgs – €1,540;
• CHX – 535kgs – €1,790;
• LMX – 505kgs – €1,710;
• CHX – 630kgs – €2,120;
• CHX – 500kgs – €1,690;
• AAX – 605kgs – €1,750;
• BBX – 630kgs – €2,300;
• CHX – 605kgs – €2,050;
• CHX – 630kgs – €1,770;
• BBX – 665kgs – €1,680;
• BBX – 525kgs – €1,960. 

Other categories: 

• Sucklers: July-2019-born entry with calf at foot – €2,800. the 28th of February;
• 2017-born LM stockbull – 1,010kgs – €2,460;
• 2020-born BB stockbull – 740kgs – €2,240. 

Weanling bulls:

• 200 to 350kg averaged €3.10/kg;
• 350kg to 450kg averaged €3.15/kg;
• Bulls 450kg+ averaged €3.01/kg with tops of €1,500 for LMX, 375kgs.

Cull cow prices 

In the cull cow ring, prices skyrocketed to €2,860 with a number of lots crossing the €2,500 mark on the day and in excess of €3.00/kg recorded for a number of lots.  

• LMX – 820kgs – €2,220;
• FR – 635kgs – €1,340;
• AAX – 675kgs – €1,500;
• CHX – 700kgs – €1,770;
• FR – 475kgs – €800;
• SI – 880kgs – €2,400;
• CHX – 1,030kgs – €2,760;
• CHX – 975kgs – €2,860;
• SIX – 590kgs – €1,190;
• BBX – 715kgs – €1,910;
• HEX – 585kgs – €1,160;
• CH – 745kgs – €1,720;
• LMX – 765kgs – €2,040;
• SIX – 845kgs – €2,660;
• LMX – 840kgs – €2,450;
• AAX – 790kgs – €1,940; 
• BA – 470kgs – €1,270;
• CHX – 965kgs – €2,820;
• LM – 675kgs – €1,770;
• CHX – 800kgs – €2,160. 

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.