The Donegal Friesian Breeders club will hold its annual sale of calved heifers in Raphoe Mart on Wednesday 3 March at 12pm. The sale includes entries from some of the leading dairy herds in Donegal and is always a highly anticipated sale every year. All 50 animals are export tested and delivery is free if required. For further information about the sale and the animals entered contact Trevor Lockhart on 00353-87 2219 599 or Charles McCandless on 00353-86 3339 547

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, sale organiser Trevor Lockhart said: “We have a big variety of heifers in this year’s sale that are suited to a wide variety of systems. We have a number of repeat buyers each year which means that the stock are obviously performing on farms. The stock are all very genuine and the sale is taking place for the last 50 years so people know what they are getting. One thing that purchasers like, is that the fact that the stock are delivered on the sale day.”

Martbids

Due to COVID-19 restrictions the sale is being held 100% online on martbids.ie. All buyers must be registered in advance of the sale and approved to bid. Ideally this would be completed with Raphoe Mart by close of business on Tuesday to avoid any delays on Wednesday morning. Buyers need to download the martbids app, register and then seek bidding permission from Raphoe Mart. If there are any issues you can contact Raphoe Mart on 00353-74 9145 250 or 00353-87 3726 098. Buyers also need to book a viewing slot with Raphoe Mart if they wish to view the stock on the morning of the sale.

Recently, the Irish Farmers Journal's Darren Carthy reported that mart managers in the south are reporting a super trade for young stock and some very good prices at some recent clearance sales. Carnew Mart held a clearance sale of 65 cows in milk last Tuesday and they averaged €1,850/head. Kilkenny Mart also witnessed a very good trade for young, quality cows at its dairy sale last week. The entry of 40 dairy stock averaged €1,710/head, with a top of €2,400 for a freshly-calved, second-lactation Friesian cow.

To view the sale catalogue, click here.