Aurivo Livestock Mart in Mohill, Co. Leitrim, hosted its annual 'Monaghan Day' series of sales over the past week with approximately 250 weanling heifers on offer on Wednesday, February 11

The name 'Monaghan Day' has age-old origins in the Co. Leitrim town and is a tradition from an old fair day in Mohill.

The annual event is now split out over a number of days with a different day for each category of cattle.

Speaking to Agriland, Mohill mart manager Darragh Barden said the Monaghan Day weanling bull sale took place on Wednesday, February 4; the Monaghan Day store heifer sale was on Saturday, February 7; with the weanling heifer sale on Wednesday, February 11; and the bullocks on Saturday, February 14.

Weanling heifers

The mart manager told Agriland there was a "cracking trade" for the top-quality heifers in the sale, with buyers "competing hard throughout and demand staying strong from start to finish".

Weanling heifers over 400kg averaged €2,144 or €4.98/kg, with a 495kg Charolais heifer making €2,780 or €5.62/kg.

In the 300-400kg weight range, weanling heifers averaged €1,871/head or €5.43/kg.

Some of the top prices in the 300-400kg weight range:

315kg Limousin heifer sold for €2,300 or €7.30/kg;
390kg Limousin heifer sold for €2,400 or €6.15/kg;
390kg Charolais heifer sold for €2,300 or €5.90/kg;
380kg Charolais heifer sold for €2,150 or €5.66/kg;
355kg Belgian Blue heifer sold for €2,320 or €6.54/kg;

The lighter weanling heifers under 300kg averaged €1,548 or €5.64/kg.

Up to €7.17/kg was paid in this category for a 290kg Charolais heifer that made €2,080.

Weanling bulls

The weanling bull sale took place on Wednesday, February 4, and the mart manager said that there were approximately 450 bulls on offer in the sale.

He said that there was a high level of exporter demand in the sale, with approximately 150 weanling bulls secured by exporters on the day.

The weanling bulls under 300kg averaged €5.61/kg or €1,450/head and the weanling bulls in the 300-400kg weight range averaged €5.63/kg or €1,997/head.

Some of the top prices paid for bulls under 400kg in the sale:

290kg Belgian Blue bull sold for €1,690 or €5.83/kg;
280kg Belgian Blue bull sold for €1,930 or €6.89/kg;
280kg Limousin bull sold for €1,820 or €6.50/kg;
265kg Belgian Blue bull sold for €1,570 or €5.92/kg;
395kg Limousin bull sold for €2,480 or €6.28/kg;
395kg Belgian Blue bull sold for €2,440 or €6.18/kg;
385kg Charolais bull sold for €2,500 or €6.49/kg.

Bulls in the 400-500kg weight range averaged €2,310/head or €5.29/kg, while the bulls over 500kg averaged €2,580/head or €4.75/kg.