On Friday, just over 270 cattle went under the hammer in Ballymote Mart, where a 90% clearance was achieved.
Trade remained firm for bull weanlings, while heifer weanlings saw a tougher day 'sselling, with some going home unsold.
In the sale, a small consignment of organic cattle went under the hammer where over €6/kg was paid for the top lots.
Martbids analysis shows the top third of heifer weanlings weighing between 300kg and 400kg saw a lift of 7c/kg on last week, as these heifers sold for an average of €5.36/kg.
The bottom third sold to an average of €3.66/kg, back 40c/kg on last week's sale, largely down to a bigger number of traditional-bred cattle and bucket-reared heifers on offer this week.
Heifers weighing between 300kg and 400kg averaged out at €4.49/kg.
A smaller number of heifers on offer weighing between 200kg and 300kg met a more stable trade, only back from 5c/kg to 15c/kg on last week.
These heifers averaged €4.46/kg, while the top third sold to an impressive average of €5.43/kg.
'Stability in trade'
“Heifer weanlings were back slightly this week, but I expect as more money is paid out to farmers over the coming week we will see a stability in trade,” said mart manager David Faughnan.
“There was plenty of customers for the top-end heifers – we had heifers sell to over €3,000, with quality Charolais and Limousin-cross heifers able to make above €6/kg.”
Bull weanlings met a more brisk trade despite lower shipper activity in Friday's sale.
Charolais bull weanlings continue to remain the firm favourite among farmers when buying and quality golden weanlings were crossing the €6/kg mark.
Bulls
Martbids analysis shows there was 73 bulls sold weighing between 300kg and 400kg, with these bulls averaging €4.80/kg, while the top third sold to an average of €5.77/kg, no change on last week’s averages.
A top price per kilo of €6.45/kg was paid for a Charolais-cross bull weighing 310kg.
A further 54 bulls were on offer weighing from 200kg to 300kg, with these bulls all seeing an improvement on trade on last week's sale.
The top third of bulls in this weight band sold to an average of €5.81/kg, while the average animal saw a rise of 25c/kg, selling for €5.09/kg of an average.
A small offering of bulls weighing over 400kg sold from €4/kg up to €5.50/kg, with farmers opting to buy the lighter weanlings.
David said: “We had a great trade for the bull weanlings, as there was plenty of farmers ringside for the quality golden weanling. Any of the better-quality weanlings sold from €5/kg upwards, with over €6/kg paid for the top lots.”
