There were variable fortunes in last Thursday’s cattle sale in Raphoe Mart in Co Donegal.
It was the first week where there was a noticeable increase in activity from buyers looking to source cattle for summer grazing systems and, according to manager Ann Harkin, this helped to insert more life into the trade for lighter stock.
In contrast, continued factory pressure on beef prices tempered demand for slaughter-fit cattle, cows and forward stores, with prices back by €30 to €50/head on the previous sale.
Heifers weighing from 500kg to 600kg upwards sold on average for €4.10/kg.
Some plainer-quality and traditionally bred animals sold from €3.70/kg to €4.10/kg, while good-quality continentals sold to €4.30/kg to €4.40/kg.
Quality
Some quality two-year-old heifers weighing from 500kg to 600kg exceeded this range, selling to €4.70/kg to €4.80/kg.
Lighter heifers weighing from 400kg to 500kg averaged €4.20/kg, with plainer-quality animals from €3.70/kg to €4/kg and top-quality continentals rising to upwards of €5/kg.
Yearling Angus-cross and Belgian Blue-cross heifers tended to sell from €4/kg to €4.40/kg.
Similar story
It was a similar story for traditionally bred and continental bullocks, with the main difference here being Friesian bullocks. These sold in the main from €3.30/kg to €3.70/kg for heavier lots with some yearlings selling to €4/kg and higher.
There was some top-quality Charolais-cross and Limousin-cross bulls weighing from 650kg to 750kg and these ranged on average from €4.10/kg to €4.30/kg, with prices falling 10c/kg either side of this range for extremes in quality.
The trade for weanling and yearling bulls was steady, with quality having a big influence on price.
Continental bulls sold from €4.60/kg to €5.40/kg, with a handful of excellent-quality lots to €6/kg and over.
At the other end of the quality spectrum, yearling Friesian bulls sold from €3.30/kg to €4/kg.
Demand for culls cows is solid, but agents currently do not possess the same purchasing power.
Heavy continental cows sold from €3.10/kg to €3.45/kg on average, while light Friesian cows sold from €2.37/kg to €2.60/kg, rising to €2.99/kg for better-quality and heavier cows.
A small entry of Angus heifer calves weighing 60kg to 70kg sold from €460 to €490 per head, with a couple of lighter calves selling back to €350 for 50kg.
This Limousin-cross heifer weighing 415kg and born 25/03/2024 sold for €2,050 (€4.94/kg).
This Aberdeen Angus-cross heifer weighing 315kg and born 19/03/25 sold for €1,220 (€3.87/kg).
This Belgian Blue heifer weighing 285kg and born 14/03/25 sold for €1,190 (€4.18/kg).
This batch of three Friesian-cross bullocks weighing 483.3kg and born March 2024 sold for €1,740 (€3.60/kg).
This Charolais-cross bull weighing 610kg and born 23/12/24 sold for €2,680 (€4.39/kg).
This pair of Friesian-cross bulls averaging 427.5kg and born February 2025 sold for €1,420 (€3.23/kg).
Weighing 870kg, this Limousin bull born 25/09/23 sold for €3,680 (€4.23/kg).
This good-quality fleshed Friesian-cross cow weighing 690kg and born 25/06/2019 sold for €1,960 (€2.84/kg).
This Shorthorn-cross cow weighing 775kg and born 07/5/2019 sold for €2,500 (€3.23/kg).
Weighing 725kg, this Charolais-cross cow born 04/01/2014 sold for €2,420 (€3.34/kg).
This Simmental-cross cow weighing 785kg sold for €2,700 (€3.44/kg).
This Limousin-cross bull weighing 700kg and born 15/05/24 sold for €2,830 (€4.04/kg).
This Friesian-cross cow weighing 590kg and born 15/04/2015 sold for €1,400 (€2.37/kg).
This Aberdeen Angus-cross heifer calf weighing 60kg and born 06/02/26 sold for €490 (€8.17/kg).
This Belgian Blue-cross cow weighing 940kg and born 08/03/21 sold for €3,560 (€3.78/kg).
Weighing 255kg, this Aberdeen Angus-cross heifer born 02/06/2025 sold for €1,090 (€4.27/kg).
Weighing 600kg, this Charolais-cross cow born 18/03/2015 sold for €1,860 (€3.10/kg).
This Limousin-cross springing cow weighing 840kg, born 06/03/2021 and due end of March to a Charolais bull sold for €3,400 (€4.05/kg).
This Shorthorn-cross heifer born 17/01/2025 and weighing 405kg sold for €1,620 (€4/kg).
There were variable fortunes in last Thursday’s cattle sale in Raphoe Mart in Co Donegal.
It was the first week where there was a noticeable increase in activity from buyers looking to source cattle for summer grazing systems and, according to manager Ann Harkin, this helped to insert more life into the trade for lighter stock.
In contrast, continued factory pressure on beef prices tempered demand for slaughter-fit cattle, cows and forward stores, with prices back by €30 to €50/head on the previous sale.
Heifers weighing from 500kg to 600kg upwards sold on average for €4.10/kg.
Some plainer-quality and traditionally bred animals sold from €3.70/kg to €4.10/kg, while good-quality continentals sold to €4.30/kg to €4.40/kg.
Quality
Some quality two-year-old heifers weighing from 500kg to 600kg exceeded this range, selling to €4.70/kg to €4.80/kg.
Lighter heifers weighing from 400kg to 500kg averaged €4.20/kg, with plainer-quality animals from €3.70/kg to €4/kg and top-quality continentals rising to upwards of €5/kg.
Yearling Angus-cross and Belgian Blue-cross heifers tended to sell from €4/kg to €4.40/kg.
Similar story
It was a similar story for traditionally bred and continental bullocks, with the main difference here being Friesian bullocks. These sold in the main from €3.30/kg to €3.70/kg for heavier lots with some yearlings selling to €4/kg and higher.
There was some top-quality Charolais-cross and Limousin-cross bulls weighing from 650kg to 750kg and these ranged on average from €4.10/kg to €4.30/kg, with prices falling 10c/kg either side of this range for extremes in quality.
The trade for weanling and yearling bulls was steady, with quality having a big influence on price.
Continental bulls sold from €4.60/kg to €5.40/kg, with a handful of excellent-quality lots to €6/kg and over.
At the other end of the quality spectrum, yearling Friesian bulls sold from €3.30/kg to €4/kg.
Demand for culls cows is solid, but agents currently do not possess the same purchasing power.
Heavy continental cows sold from €3.10/kg to €3.45/kg on average, while light Friesian cows sold from €2.37/kg to €2.60/kg, rising to €2.99/kg for better-quality and heavier cows.
A small entry of Angus heifer calves weighing 60kg to 70kg sold from €460 to €490 per head, with a couple of lighter calves selling back to €350 for 50kg.
This Limousin-cross heifer weighing 415kg and born 25/03/2024 sold for €2,050 (€4.94/kg).
This Aberdeen Angus-cross heifer weighing 315kg and born 19/03/25 sold for €1,220 (€3.87/kg).
This Belgian Blue heifer weighing 285kg and born 14/03/25 sold for €1,190 (€4.18/kg).
This batch of three Friesian-cross bullocks weighing 483.3kg and born March 2024 sold for €1,740 (€3.60/kg).
This Charolais-cross bull weighing 610kg and born 23/12/24 sold for €2,680 (€4.39/kg).
This pair of Friesian-cross bulls averaging 427.5kg and born February 2025 sold for €1,420 (€3.23/kg).
Weighing 870kg, this Limousin bull born 25/09/23 sold for €3,680 (€4.23/kg).
This good-quality fleshed Friesian-cross cow weighing 690kg and born 25/06/2019 sold for €1,960 (€2.84/kg).
This Shorthorn-cross cow weighing 775kg and born 07/5/2019 sold for €2,500 (€3.23/kg).
Weighing 725kg, this Charolais-cross cow born 04/01/2014 sold for €2,420 (€3.34/kg).
This Simmental-cross cow weighing 785kg sold for €2,700 (€3.44/kg).
This Limousin-cross bull weighing 700kg and born 15/05/24 sold for €2,830 (€4.04/kg).
This Friesian-cross cow weighing 590kg and born 15/04/2015 sold for €1,400 (€2.37/kg).
This Aberdeen Angus-cross heifer calf weighing 60kg and born 06/02/26 sold for €490 (€8.17/kg).
This Belgian Blue-cross cow weighing 940kg and born 08/03/21 sold for €3,560 (€3.78/kg).
Weighing 255kg, this Aberdeen Angus-cross heifer born 02/06/2025 sold for €1,090 (€4.27/kg).
Weighing 600kg, this Charolais-cross cow born 18/03/2015 sold for €1,860 (€3.10/kg).
This Limousin-cross springing cow weighing 840kg, born 06/03/2021 and due end of March to a Charolais bull sold for €3,400 (€4.05/kg).
This Shorthorn-cross heifer born 17/01/2025 and weighing 405kg sold for €1,620 (€4/kg).
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