Thursday last saw Raphoe Livestock Mart host its weekly cattle sale.

This sale saw over 140 lots go under the hammer, with dry cows, heifers, bullocks and bulls all sold.

The sale saw a continued strong trade for quality cattle, as lighter quality heifers and bullocks were in very good demand.

Steady trade

Bullocks have held a steady trade all spring, with this week's sale turning out no different.

Heavier bullocks weighing 600kg-plus sold well, achieving up to €2.37/kg. Lighter bullocks were also a great trade, with bullocks weighing 470kg-plus averaging €2.20/kg.

Heifers

For the heifers, quality was in demand, with lesser-quality stock harder shifted than recent weeks.

Heifers saw prices vary from €2/kg to €3/kg. There was more demand for a lighter heifers similar to the bullocks, with heifers around the 500kg mark hitting €2.50/kg, with the exceptional-quality heifers at this weight hitting €3/kg.

Some heavier heifers weighing 600kg-plus were a slightly lower average, with some of these selling from €2.45/kg back to €2.30/kg.

Mart manager Ann Harkin said: “The sales all spring have been good and continue to stay strong, with slaughter-fit cattle a really good trade.

"Lesser-quality cattle were a little harder sold this week, possibly due to the hard weather and a lack of grass across the country.”