Aurivo Co-Op Livestock Mart in Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo, hosted its weekly cattle sale on Wednesday, April 15, and its sheep sale on Thursday, April 16.

Speaking to Agriland after the sales, mart manager Teresa Gibsey gave an overview of the trade in the past week.

She said that in the heifer sale, prices ranged from €960-€2,210/head or €3.44-€5.32/kg.

Heifers weighing over 500kg averaged €3.90/kg or €2,110/head with a top price of €4.21/kg.

In the 400-500kg weight range, heifers averaged €4.15/kg or €1,850/head with a top price of €4.63/kg.

The 300-400kg heifers averaged €4.44/kg or €1,570/head with a top price of €5.32/kg.

The lighter heifers under 300kg averaged €4.38/kg or €1,155/head with top price €4.83/kg.

Some of the top heifer prices included:

525kg Limousin heifer sold for €2,210 or €4.21/kg;
400kg Charolais heifer sold for €1,850 or €4.63/kg;
450kg Belgian Blue heifer sold for €1,900 or €4.22/kg;
388kg pedigree Angus heifer sold for €2,060 or €5.32/kg;
350kg Limousin heifer sold for €1,800 or €5.14/kg;
330kg Limousin heifer sold for €1,720 or €5.21/kg;
295kg Angus heifer sold for €1,330 or €4.51/kg.
240kg Limousin heifer sold for €1,160 or €4.83/kg.

In the bullock sale, prices ranged from €1,040-€2,660/head or €2.54-€5.73/kg.

Heavy bullocks weighing over 500kg averaged €3.83/kg or €2,295/head with a top of €4.67/kg.

The 400-500kg bullocks averaged €4.27/kg or €1,970/head with a top call of €5.43/kg.

In the 300-400kg weight range, bullocks averaged €3.65/kg or €1,195/head with a top call of €5.40/kg.

Bullocks weighing under 300kg averaged €1,470/head with a top price/kg of €5.73/kg.

Some of the top bullock prices from the sale:

665kg Angus bullock sold for €2,660 or €4.00/kg;
620kg Charolais bullock sold for €2,600 or €4.19/kg;
505kg Angus bullock sold for €2,360 or €4.67/kg;
425kg Charolais bullock sold for €2,260 or €5.32/kg;
405kg Charolais bullock sold for €2,200 or €5.43/kg;
310kg Angus bullock sold for €1,600 or €5.16/kg;
260kg Angus bullock sold for €1,480 or €5.69/kg;
185kg Angus bullock sold for €1,060 or €5.73/kg.

In the dry cow sale, cows ranged in price from €840-€2,780/head, with an average price of €1,756/head or €2.87/kg.

Some of the top dry cow prices from the sale:

815kg Charolais cow sold for €2,780 or €3.41/kg;
675kg Limousin cow sold for €2,380 or €3.53/kg;
555kg Limousin cow sold for €1,720 or €3.10/kg;
450kg Limousin cow sold for €1,930 or €4.29/kg;

The suckler cows in the sale ranged from €1,060-€1,960/head.

In the weanling bull sale, the 200-350kg bulls averaged €4.97/kg or €1,230/head, with as high as €5.35/kg or €1,300/head paid.

Some of the top prices from the weanling bull sale:

415kg Charolais bull sold for €2,060 or €4.96/kg;
420kg Limousin bull sold for €2,020 or €4.81/kg;
365kg Limousin bull sold for €1,990 or €5.45/kg;
243kg Hereford bull sold for €1,300 or €5.35/kg;
253kg Angus bull sold for €1,140 or €4.51/kg;
355kg Limousin bull sold for €1,550 or €4.37/kg.

The 350-450kg bulls averaged €4.84/kg or €1,940/head, with as high as €5.45/kg or €2,060/head paid.

Sheep sale at Ballinrobe Mart

In the most recent sheep sale at Ballinrobe Mart, spring lambs weighing 46kg sold for €220/head or €4.78/kg.

A pen of spring lambs weighing 41.5kg sold for €195/head or €4.70/kg.

Ewe hoggets ranged from €130-€226/head or €3.08-€4.95/kg, averaging €4.33/kg.

Wethers ranged in price from €112-€172 or €2.95-€4.39/kg with the average sale price settling at €3.87/kg.

Cull ewe prices ranged from €72-€224/head averaging €152/head, and the cull ewe price per kg ranged from €1.27-€2.67/kg with an average of €2.19/kg.

There was a selection of ewes with lambs at foot in the sale ranging in price from €134-€270/head with second-crop ewes with lambs at foot averaging €250/head.