Aurivo Livestock Mart Balla will host an array of special sales next month (October 2022) to celebrate 50 years in business.
The popular Co Mayo-based business will hold a special bullock sale on Saturday, October 1st, 2022.
There will be first and second prizes for any bullock over 600kgs (price per 100kgs) and first and second prizes for any bullock under 600kg (price per 100 kg).
Meanwhile, there will be a special heifer sale at the west of Ireland-based cattle mart on Saturday, October 8th, 2022.
There will be first and second prizes for any heifer over 550kgs (price per 100kg) and first and second prizes for any heifer under 500kgs (price per 100kgs).
Its Ballaghaderreen-based animal feed manufacturing arm, Nutrias Animal Feeds, will sponsor all of the above classes.
The mill – which was established in 1979 – produces an “extensive” range of products to cater for various enterprises, including beef, dairy, sheep and calf-to-beef farms.
Meanwhile, there will be a special weanling sale on Tuesday, October 4th, 2022.
The Irish Charolais Cattle Society will kindly sponsor first and second prizes for the best Charolais bull calf per 100kg and first and second prizes for the best Charolais heifer calf per 100kg.
Balla Mart
In 2020, Sligo beef farmer, Stephen Hannon, became the general manager of Aurivo Marts and manager of Balla Mart, Co Mayo.
The Coolfadda, Ballymote native, moved to fill the general managerial position after Martin Walsh’s retirement, following over 40 years of service.
Stephen joined Aurivo Marts, which operates four livestock mart centres in the west, in 2006, securing two managerial appointments.
Before joining Aurivo, Stephen studied dairy farm management at Kildalton Agricultural College and Clonakilty Agricultural College in 1987.
He previously managed dairy farms as part of his studies and later joined Dawn Meats before carving a career in the livestock marts industry.
“In 2013, I took over the management of Ballymote Mart and Mohill Mart. My career progressed then to its present situation, which is general manager of Aurivo Marts and manager of Balla Mart,” Stephen Hannon told That’s Farming.
“Some of the best cattle in the west comes to Balla Mart. The buyers come from all over the country for good store cattle in this mart. A lot of the store cattle here go to the east of the country.”
“Balla Mart covers a huge area of Westport, Achill, parts of Sligo, and Roscommon. At peak times, the mart would have a staff base of 35 people, with three full-time and the rest part-time,” he added.
Read the interview in full.
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