Aurivo Co-op Livestock Mart (Ballinrobe Mart) in Co. Mayo hosted its weekly general cattle sale on Wednesday, February 25.

Speaking to Agriland after the sale, mart manager Teresa Gibsey gave an overview of the prices on the day.

In the bullock sale, she said that entries "sold well, particularly the heavy lots", with a top call of €2,730 for a 740kg Angus bullock.

Forward stores in the 400-500kg bracket averaged €4.27/kg. and the lighter bullocks under 300kg also performed strongly, topping at €1,260 for a 290kg Angus bullock.

Heifer prices

However, the mart manager said it was the heifer sale that produced some of the standout prices per kilo on the day.

"Light to medium-weight lots under 400kg were in keen demand, including a 315kg Limousin heifer that sold for €1,900 or €6.03/kg which was one of the highest prices per kilo in the sale," Gibsey said.

Heavy heifers over 500kg sold well, topping at €2,180 or €4.32/kg for a 505kg Angus.

In the cow sale, cows remained a strong trade, "particularly the heavy, well-fleshed cows," the mart manager said.

Several cows in the sale exceeded €3.50/kg, with an 845kg Limousin cow fetching €3,160 (€3.74/kg)

Cows with calves at foot sold for prices up to €3,150-€3,350.

Weanling bulls also attracted excellent customer competition with lighter lots selling briskly.

A 305kg Angus bull sold for €1,580 or €5.18/kg, the top price per kilo of the section.

Sheep sale at Ballinrobe Mart

The sheep sale at Ballinrobe Mart will return to Thursdays at 11:00a.m from March.

In the hogget sale last Wednesday, prices ranged from €115-€168/head, averaging €140/head or €3.52/kg.

Some of the top hogget prices in the sale:

47kg ewe hoggets sold for €168 or €3.57kg;
38kg ewe hoggets sold for €144 or €3.79/kg;
47.5kg ewe hoggets sold for €160 or €3.37/kg.

Cull ewe prices in the sale ranged from €40-€196/head with the average cull ewe price on the day settling at €121/head or €1.70/kg.

A 97kg cull ewe sold for €196 or €2.02/kg

The mart venue will host a bullock and cow show and sale on Wednesday, March 4 as well as a heifer show and sale on March 11, and a weanling show and sale on March 13.