Tuam Mart in Co. Galway hosted its weekly general cattle sale on Monday (January 22), with 150 cattle on offer, according to Tuam Mart auctioneer Darren Hession.

The top price of the sale went to a 1,070kg Hereford-cross bullock owned by a Corrandulla-based farmer. This lot sold for €3,580 or €3.35/kg and was bought by a local factory agent.

The auctioneer said that the trade in the sale was "dominated by factory agents and players from factory feedlots securing supplies".

Other prices from the bullock sale included:

420kg Charolais-cross bullock sold for €1,560 or €3.71/kg;
475kg Charolais bullock sold for €1,640 or €3.45/kg;
505kg Angus bullock sold for €1,680 or €3.33/kg;
Two 525kg Hereford-cross bullocks made €1,730 or €3.30/kg;
540kg Limousin-cross bullock sold for €1,880 or €3.48/kg;
620kg Angus bullock sold for €2,180 or €3.52/kg;
645kg Limousin bullock sold for €2,170 or €3.36/kg;
710kg Limousin bullock sold for €2,620 or €3.69/kg.

The auctioneer noted some exceptional prices, in particular for Angus cattle saying "the Angus are in great demand driven by factory agents and feedlots".

As well as this, Hession said: "Any smart bullock with good conformation made plenty as well as the heavier bullocks. Anything carrying weight with a bit of flesh made plenty."

Prices from the heifer sale included:

Three 398kg Angus heifers made €1,260 or €3.17/kg;
410kg Belgian Blue heifer made €1,320 or €3.22/kg;
455kg Limousin heifer made €1,600 or €3.52/kg;
Three 498kg Simmental heifers made €2,010 or €4.04/kg;
500kg Limousin heifer made €1,840 or €3.68/kg;
565kg Angus heifer made €1,840 or €3.26/kg;
600kg Limousin heifer made €2,230 or €3.72/kg.

In the cow sale, several of the heavy cows made over €3.00/kg with Friesian cows making up to €2.48/kg.

Prices from the cow sale included:

685kg Limousin cow made €2,040 or €2.98/kg;
745kg Charolais cow made €2,370 or €3.18/kg;
690kg Charolais cow made €2,200 or €3.19/kg;
770kg Simmental cow made €2,480 or €3.22/kg;
790kg Limousin cow made €2,400 or €3.04/kg.

Hession noted there was a small show of weanlings at this week's sale but noted the mart is set to host a special show and sale of weanlings next Monday (January 27).

A number of weanling bulls made over €4.00/kg with the top price per kilo of €4.15/kg going to a 325kg Charolais weanling bull making €1,350.

Weanling heifers made up to €3.45/kg with a 345kg Aubrac heifer making €1,190.

In the sheep sale on Tuesday (January 21), Hession said there were "almost 1,000 on offer".

"It was a big sale for the time of year. There was an enormous turnout of cull ewes with an outstanding trade."

He noted that 80kg cull ewes made up to €220/head while 52kg lambs made €215/head in several cases.

There were also a few ewes with lambs at foot with two ewes and two singles making €310/pair.