There were almost 900 cattle sold at Balla Mart in Co. Mayo on Saturday, March 29, with heavy cows and cull stock bulls taking the highest prices.

Speaking to Agriland after the sale, mart manager Michael Nolan said: "Them exceptional quality U grade cows are coming into the same price as bullocks and the majority of them cows are going north."

The largest price of the sale went to a 1,110kg Charolais stock bull that sold to a factory agent for €4,560. Another 950kg dry cow sold for €4,280, while a lighter June 2019-born 880kg dry cow sold for €4,000 or €4.55/kg to a Co. Tyrone-based customer.

There were over 180 lots on offer in the dry cow ring this week, with cows weighing over 500kg up by 25c/kg on last week to settle at an average sale price of €3.86/kg and the tops getting around 4.50/kg.

Nolan said: "Good fat cows and strong bulls were a serious trade - up by €200/head on last week and a better trade than the bullocks."

The trade overall in the general cattle was described as "the best sale yet", with cattle up €60-70/head on last week in some categories.

Bullocks in the 300-400kg weight category averaged €4.46/kg, with store bullocks in the 400-500kg weight bracket averaging €4.34/kg while heavier bullocks weighing over 500kg averaged 4.45/kg.

A light Charolais bullock born May 2024 weighing 270kg made €1,720.00 or €6.37/kg for a Balla-based farmer, while another Limousin bullock from his bunch weighing 325kg made €1,900 or 5.85/kg.

Another 495kg continental bullock sold for €2,620 or €5.29/kg to a feedlot buyer from Co. Donegal, with a heavier Angus bullock weighing 775kg making €3,640 or 4.70/kg.

Other notable bullock prices from the sale:

265kg Angus bullock sold for €1,760 €6.64/kg;
325kg Limousin bullock sold for €1,900 €5.85/kg;
495kg Charolais bullock sold for €2,620 or €5.29/kg;
680kg Belgian Blue bullock sold for €3,240 or €4.76/kg;
775kg Angus bullock sold for €3,640 or €4.70/kg.

In the heifer sale, the stores were described as "a mighty trade", the best of which were making over €4.50/kg and up by 30c/kg.

Lighter store heifers in the 300-400kg weight bracket averaged 4.33/kg at the Saturday sale in Balla Mart. Heifers weighing from 400-500kg averaged €4.30/kg and heifers weighing over 500kg averaged €4.44/kg.

Notable heifer prices from the sale:

495kg Limousin heifer sold for €2,410 or €4.87/kg;
645kg Limousin heifer sold for €3,260 or €5.05/kg;
765kg Limousin heifer sold for €3,740 or €4.89/kg.

A 295kg Charolais store heifer made €1,730 or €5.64/kg and another April-2023-born Belgian Blue heifer weighing 495kg made €2,320 or €5.40/kg, purchased by a Co. Antrim farmer.

A heavier 715kg Charolais heifer made €3,460 or €4.84/kg and was also sold to a buyer based in Northern Ireland.