A new weekly calf sale located in Co. Laois kicked off on Saturday, March 8, with over 100 calves on offer in the initial sale.

Speaking to Agriland after the sale which took place at Ballinakill Mart, manager Marie Younge said "there were very good quality calves on offer and the prices achieved reflected this across a range of breeds".

Continental bull calves ranged in price from €290-400/head at the marts' first weekly calf sale with continental-sired heifer calves making anywhere from €300-390/head.

Hereford-sired bull calves were making from €270-340/head and Hereford-sired heifer calves sold for €230-290/head.

Angus bull calves were making from €280-375/head with Angus heifers making from €220-310/head. Friesian bull calves made from €160-280/head.

The calf sale at Ballinakill Mart will take place every Saturday in Ring 2 at 3:00p.m and the mart manager said: "We expect to have large numbers of calves on offer over the coming weeks".

There were almost 600 head of cattle on offer in the general cattle sale at Ballinakill Mart on Saturday, March 8, with almost a full clearance of the cattle on offer.

Mart manager Marie Younge said: "The trade continued to be exceptionally strong for all categories of stock".

Bullocks sold for up to €3,400 or €4.50/kg for a 755kg Limousin bullock. Another Angus bullock weighing 760kg sold for €3,260 or 4.29/kg.

Other notable forward-store bullock prices at the sale included €2,880 or €4.10/kg for a 705kg Belgian Blue bullock, with another 620kg Friesian making €2,400 or €3.87/kg.

In the lighter bullocks, a 360kg Limousin sold for €1,780 or €4.94/kg with a 410kg Limousin bullock making €1,940 or €4.73/kg.

Some notable heifer prices from the sale:

585kg Limousin heifer sold for €2,530 or €4.32/kg;
575kg Angus heifer sold for €2,170 or €3.77/kg;
280kg Charolais heifer sold for €1,200 or €4.29/kg;
385kg Hereford heifer sold for €1,510 or €3.92/kg;
480kg Angus heifer sold for €1,660 or €3.46/kg.

Cull cows made up to €3,270 or €3.72/kg for an 880kg Limousin cow with a Parthenaise cow weighing 635kg selling fort €2,350 or €3.70/kg.

A 440kg Friesian cow made €1,470 or €3.34/kg with an 815kg Charolais cow making €2,990 or €3.67/kg.

Weanling bulls made up to €4.91/kg or €1,130 for a 230kg Charolais bull calf and weanling heifers made up to €4.96/kg or €1,140 for a 230kg Charolais heifer.