A special suckler dispersal and replacement heifer sale took place at Tuam Mart on Saturday 3 October. The herd belonged to a well-known suckler farmer and BETTER Farm Programme participant, Billy Gilmore. The 22-cow suckler herd, all with calves at foot, met strong demand. Prices ranged mainly from €2,000 to €2,980, with the majority selling from €2,000 to €2,400.

The calves were predominantly young cows, with Belgian Blue calves at foot, and all calves were born in August and September and were AI-bred.

Along with the cows, Gilmore sold 38 replacement heifers. These were all bred to AI Limousin easy-calving sires and were vaccinated for BVD and Lepto. The heifers are due to calve from 10 November onwards.

The prices for heifers ranged mainly from €1,750 to €2,300 and would have averaged just over €1,800.

This four-star Belgian Blue cross cow, born August 2010 and with an August 2015 Belgian Blue calf at foot, sold for €2,200.

This three-star Limousin cross cow, born March 2011 with a Belgian Blue cross calf at foot, sold for €2,040.

This four-star Belgian Blue cow, born February 2011 with a September-born Blue calf at foot, sold for €2,740.

This five-star Belgian Blue cow, born April 2011 with a September-born calf at foot, sold for €2,980.