Local, northern, and online activity was the backbone of trade at Elphin Mart’s special breeding heifer show and sale on Wednesday, August 30th, 2023, which saw over 70 pens of top-quality elite lots on offer.
Sellers and purchasers travelled from all corners of the country for the sale, which got underway shortly after 11am.
Prices ranged from €950 upwards to €7,200 for the champion, which was chosen and purchased by judge, Gareth Corrie from Northern Ireland.
On the day, heifers with Belgian Blue influence, along with some Limousin blood in many cases,, proved to be among the best selling contenders.
Some sample prices on the day included:
BB – 16-01-2020 – 725kgs – €2,020
BBX – 02-06-2020 – 785kgs – €2,520
LMX – 20-05-2020 – 740kgs – €2,680
LMX – 640kgs – 24-07-2021 – €2,350
BBX – 31-12-2021 – 615kgs – €2,580
LMX – 575kgs – LMX – 15-03-2021 – €3,000
BBX – 630kgs – 18-06-2021 – €3,100
BBX – 19-08-2021 – 690kgs – €3,120
LMX – 560kgs – 01-05-2021 – €2,080
CHX – 550kgs – 04-02-2022 – €2,220
SHX – 570kgs – 03-06-2021 – €2,420
BBX – 520kgs – 29-06-2021 – €2,300
BBX – 530kgs – 17-03-2022 – €3,200
CHX – 535kgs – 16-04-2022 – €2,720
LMX – 630kgs – 05-04-2022 – €3,450
BBX – 620kgs – 07-02-2022 – €3,250
LMX – 635kgs – 10-01-2022 – had summer mastitis (correct in three teats) – €2,800
BBX – 605kgs – 09-01-2022 – €3,250
CHX – 710kgs – 01-03-2021 – €2,780
BBX – 545kgs – 19-08-2021 – €2,660
BBX – 650kgs – 11-09-2021 – €3,500
Rosette winners
Gareth Corrie of Drumhilla Farm in Northern Ireland officiated as pre-sale judge and selected three Belgian Blue-cross heifers – two from one seller – as his red, blue, and yellow rosette winners.
His overall champion came in the form of lot 16A, a May-2021-born (28-month-old) BBX heifer, out of a Limousin-cross dam, with three owners (in her current herd 446 days), which crossed the scales at 810kgs and went on to sell for €7,200 or €8.89/kg, following a flurry of ringside and online bidding activity.
His second-prize winner was lot 13A, a 685kg Belgian Blue-cross, also out of a Limousin-cross dam, born on 08-06-2021 (27 months) with three owners (from the same seller above – in current herd 450 days), and she sold for €3,900 or €5.69/kg.
His third-prize winner, 75A, came from a separate seller and was a Belgian Blue-cross heifer, also out of a Limousin-cross dam, born on 09-01-2022 (20 months), with 2 owners (in her current herd 265 days). She crossed the scales at 610kgs, and the hammer fell at €4,000 or €6.56/kg.
Read more on this news article and see the first, second and third-prize winners selling.
