Cattle and sheep trade keeps farmer spirits high at Ballina Mart
The steady cattle trade and record prices being achieved for lambs and hoggets at Mayo-Sligo Co-op Mart (Ballina Mart) Co. Mayo, are keeping farmers' spirits high despite the current wet weather conditions, according to mart manager, Billy Loftus.
Speaking to Agriland following the weekly general cattle and sheep sale at the mart venue on Tuesday, April 2, the mart manager said:
"We're nearly getting €3.60-€4.00/kg lightweight for hoggets and lambs, it's never been dearer, €200/head for a good lamb at the moment, it's a great price."
Commenting on the cattle trade at the mart, he said:
"The forward 600-700kg bullocks and heifers are just about holding, depending on quality, at €3.00-€3.25/kg on average. A good Charolais bullock is still fit to make €3.20/kg live weight."
Prices from the bullock sale at Ballina on Tuesday included:
- 628kg Charolais bullock sold for €2,070;
- 650kg Limousin bullock sold for €2,010;
- 592kg Charolais bullock sold for €1,870;
- 584kg Limousin bullock sold for €2,040.
He said: "The store cattle are gone to an awful price, the west would have a lot of 'seven month men' buying cattle for drawing grants and they come into the trade in April to buy cattle and sell on again in October.
"Historically, April would be their month and anything from 300-500kg is their market. They want the continental cattle and there's serious demand for them."
"I seen 350kg bullocks fit to make €1,400. You get that for a few weeks, but we're in the middle of the spring trade at the moment."
Prices from the heifer sale at Ballina on Tuesday included:
- 716kg Charolais heifer sold for €2,320;
- 410kg Belgian Blue heifer sold (for breeding) for €2,260;
- 660kg Charolais heifer sold for €2,000;
- 666kg Limousin heifer sold for €1,970;
- 646kg Charolais heifer sold for €1,950;
- 594kg Limousin heifer sold for €1,880.
Commenting on the number of cattle in the sale, the mart manager said: "For January, February and March, numbers were steady on other years. We are expecting April to be a big month for cattle sales.
"In the last two months, especially for the beef and the forward cattle, the exporters are at it big time, anything they want they're fit to buy out. We cleared 30 heavy cattle for export this morning (Wednesday) going direct to the north. It's really adding to the ring-side competition."
Sample weanling bull prices:
- 362kg Charolais bull sold for €1,530;
- 384kg Limousin bull sold for €1,450;
- 374kg Charolais bull sold for €1,350;
- 440kg Charolais bull sold for €1,350;
- 236kg Charolais bull sold for €1,100;
- 288kg Charolais bull sold for €1,120;
- 400kg Angus bull sold for €1,310.
He said that most of the top prices in the weanling bull sale were paid by farmers buying cattle for grass.
Commenting on the trade for lighter-type cattle and runners, he said: "Lighter cattle had eased a bit but hardened in the last two weeks. Weather had impacted them a bit but now with the longer days, they're selling fine."
He added that in the cull cow ring, average prices for the top, heavy cows ranged from €2.60-2.80/kg.
Sample prices from the cull cow ring:
- 890kg cow sold for €2,540;
- 840kg cow sold for €2,410.
The feeding-type continental cows going to grass were making €2.70-2.80/kg, while the Friesian cows ranged from €2.10-2.40/kg and the thinner-type cows made €2/kg tops.
Mayo-Sligo Co-op Mart (Ballina Mart) is set to host a special sale of pedigree breeding bulls on Tuesday, April 9.
The multi-breed pedigree bull sale is set to feature 70 bulls and will kick off at 12:00p.m, with premiums available to the purchasers of the top-priced bulls.
The bull sale at Ballina Mart will also feature a special entry of 11 Aberdeen Angus bulls from the Coolcran Angus Herd.
