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.