Videos: Pairs to €3,200 and dry cows to €2,550 in Balla

Farming News/Mart Reports on That’s Farming (www.thatsfarming.com) – Aurivo Balla Mart – Cattle Prices – 02-09-2023

According to Stephen Hannon, Saturday, September 2^nd, 2023, saw a bumper entry of stock at Aurivo Balla Mart, Co Mayo, with three rings in operation.

Circa 100 dry cows, over 20 suckler pairs, 450 heifers, 300 bullocks and 7 stock bulls crossed the scales at its most recent general cattle sale ahead of its opening weanling show and show on Tuesday, September 5^th, 2023.

Bullock prices

According to the general manager of Aurivo Marts and manager of Balla Mart, bullock averages were up by 10c/kg for all weights categories.

Bullocks 300kg to 400kg averaged €2.93/kg, while entries in the 400kg to 500kg weight bracket levelled at €2.80/kg and heavier types north of 500kg sold for an average of €2.81/kg.

Hannon commented: “Quality, heavy bullocks 700kg+ were making between €1,400 to €1,500 with the weight.”

“The best of the heavy bullocks were bought by northern factory buyers. A 685kg AAX, aged 28 months and quality assured, topped at €2,220 or 3.25/kg.”

• CH – 580kgs – €1,340;
• CHX – 560kgs – €1,340;
• CHX – 580kgs -€1,540;
• CHX – 600kgs – €1,550;
• MAX – 560kgs – €1,400;
• BBX – 510kgs – €1,300;
• LMX – 690kgs – €1,920;
• AAX – 620kgs – €1,750;
• AAX – 520kgs – €1,380;
• CHX – 630kgs – €1,750;
• LMX – 500kgs – €1,410;
• LMX – 590kgs – €1,670;
• CHX – 695kgs – €1,940;
• LMX – 500kgs – €1,480;
• CHX – 680kgs – €1,900;
• CHX – 735kgs – €2,040;
• LMX – 670kgs – €1,760;
• CHX – 755kgs – €2,060;
• LMX – 720kgs – €2,110;
• AAX – 730kgs – €1,730;
• AAX – 735kgs – €1,920.

Heifer prices

Meanwhile, ring two, saw a special feeding heifer sales, with light stores from 300 – 400kg averaging 2.71/kg, while entries from 400kg to 500kg levelled at €2.90/kg and those north of 500kg+ sold for 2.81p/kg on average.

Top of the price table in this ring was a LMX, weighing 560kg, that made €2,100 or €3.75/kg.

• CHX – 650kgs – €1,760;
• CHX – 625kgs – €1,600;
• LMX – 560kgs – €1,480;
• CHX – 515kgs – €1,310;
• CHX – 600kgs – €1,620;
• CHX – 530kgs – €1,550;
• LMX – 560kgs – €1,460;
• LMX – 605kgs – €1,580;
• AAX – 545kgs – €1,420;
• CHX – 510kgs – €1,540;
• CHX – 590kgs – €1,660;
• CHX – 650kgs – €1,700;
• AAX – 605kgs – €1,480;
• CHX – 550kgs – €1,670;
• BBX – 715kgs – €1,940;
• CHX – 675kgs – €1,970.

Dry cows

In the dry cow ring, continental types ranged from €2.40-€2.80/kg, with some younger, well-conformed types just shy of €3.00/kg, on the back of activity from local, factory and northern buyers.

Top of the town in this ring was a 1,005kg Limousin cow, that made €2,550 or €2.54/kg.

• LMX – 715kgs – €1,670;
• LMX – 810kgs – €1,960;
• SI – 615kgs – €1,380;
• HEX – 605kgs – €1,200;
• LMX – 730kgs – €1,900;
• LMX – 755kgs – €2,200;
• LMX – 645kgs – €1,640;
• CHX – 725kgs – €1,810;
• FR – 695kgs – €1,230;
• SI – 775kgs – €1,980;
• SH – 510kgs – €800;
• BBX – 610kgs – €1,290;
• LMX – 760kgs – €1,870;
• FR – 580kgs – €850;
• LMX – 730kgs – €1,860.

Suckler pairs

Following the previous week’s record price for a suckler pair (€4,650 as reported by us in this news article), there was an increased offering of suckler stock, with strong farmer demand for all types.

At €3,200, with a combined weight of 1,095kgs, was a 2018-born LMX cow, with her January-born Tomschoice Imperial heifer calf, and due to the AI Limousin bull, EBY, the end of November.

€2,620 team

€2,440 team

€2,550 team

€1,800 team

Stock bull prices:

• CH – 1,005kgs – 27-02-2019 – €2,120;
• AA – 870kgs – 13-09-2020 – €1,720;
• LM – 730kgs – 20-06-2019 – €1,620;
• FRX out of SIX dam – 735kgs –  21-10-2021 – €1,490.