More than €800 paid for heifer calf

Marts: Some exceptional prices were paid for calves by farmers in an “outstanding trade” at Kanturk Mart yesterday where over €800 for a five-week-old heifer calf may have established a new record.

The Belgian Blue heifer was described as a "very good double muscle" animal purchased by a farmer who may be hopeful of producing a quality animal for the show circuit.

But auctioneer Michael Scanlan, who was on the rostrum, could hardly believe it when he brought the hammer down at €802 and a ringside of farmers were astonished. The purchaser was a local farmer.