Belgian Blue tops trade in North Cork at €1,450

THERE was a ‘top-class’ entry of stock and strong demand at the opening weanling sale of the year at Kanturk Mart in north Cork which attracted buyers from far and wide.

In all, there were 225 weanlings on offer and prices averaged over €3/kg.

A smashing Belgian Blue bull topped the trade. Exhibited by Michael Fleming (Cullen), the weanling bull weighed 500kg and was purchased by James Ryan of Tipperary for €1,450 (€2.90/kg). He had been named Overall Champion of the Show by judge Shane Healy.

The top price in the heifers also went to a Belgian Blue, exhibited by Mary Cronin (Cullen), which was judged Reserve Champion of the show and sold for €1,350 (€3.24/kg) after tipping the scales at 420 kg.

James D O’Riordan (Cullen) scored a double as he exhibited both the best pen of male weanlings and best pen of female weanlings.

A pen of Limousin took the award in the males and weighed in at an average of 380kg, selling for €800 (€2.11 per kg), while the Limousin heifers weighed an average of 320kg and sold for €780 (€2.11/kg).

Some of the other principal prices included: two Belgian Blue bulls weighing 425kg sold for €1,170 (€2.76/kg); two Charolais bulls weighing 560kg sold for €1,210 (€2.16/kg); six Charolais Heifers weighing 420kg sold for €1,085 (€2.59/kg); and two Limousin heifers weighing 405kg sold for €965 (€2.39/ kg).