Raphoe: Larger cattle entry with trade ‘on par’ with previous weeks – Harkin

Farming News/Mart Reports – Raphoe Livestock Mart – Cattle Prices – 13-07-2023

According to Ann Harkin, there was a larger entry of cattle at this week’s sale at Raphoe Mart on Thursday, July 13^th, 2023.

The mart manager reported that “trade remained on par with that of previous weeks as demand for stock continues”.

At Thursday’s sale, strong forward cattle sold from €2.60/kg to €3.20/kg, while medium weights pushed from €2.60/kg to €3.40/kg and lighter weights changed hands from €2.60/kg to €3.80/kg

Fat cows sold from €850/head to €2220/head at Thursday’s sale.

Sheep prices
According to Harkin, there was a “brisk” trade for all on offer at this week’s sale on Monday, July 10^th, 2023, and a full clearance was recorded across the board.

Spring lambs sold at:

• €75 to €110 for 28-36kgs;
• €110 to €130 for 36-39kgs;
• €130 to €150 for 39-42kgs;
• €150 to €160 for 43-60kgs.

Last week’s cattle prices

According to Ann Harkin, there was “brisk” bidding around the ring for a larger entry of cattle at Raphoe Mart on Thursday, July 6^th, 2023.

The mart manager reported that trade “remained on par” with previous weeks, as outlined in this mart report.

Demand continued for quality lots and forward stock, with prices from €2.50/kg to €3.20/kg on the day.

Medium weights made from €2.60/kg to €3.40/kg., while lighter weights fetched from €2.60/kg to €3.60/kg.

Friesian cattle changed hands from €1.80/kg to €2.30/kg, while Aberdeen Angus types sold from €2.20/kg to €2.60/kg.

Read more on this mart report.

Interview with mart manager

Previously, as part of our week’s Mart Focus, That’s Farming profiled Ann Harkin, a former bookkeeper, financial controller and current manager of Raphoe Livestock Mart.

Ann Harkin from Convoy, County Donegal, never envisioned a career in agriculture with no farming background until the late 1980s.

In 1989, she applied for Raphoe Livestock Mart’s secretary job and became manager in 2001 due to the late John Witherow’s tendering.

“I never was in a mart until the day I did the interview; it was a secretary and financial controller position, which I applied for as my career; it was not because of a love of farming,” she told That’s Farming.

“I never thought I would become a manager; it was the trust of the committee and the mart shareholders who had confidence in me. It was never a job in my wildest dreams did I think I would get because I was not from a farming background.”

Read Ann Harkins’ profile.

Mart information:

• Address: Raphoe Livestock Mart, County Donegal.
• Contact: 074 914 5385
• Sale days: Sheep sale – Mondays at 11 am. Cattle sale – Thursdays at 11 am.

Read more on this mart report on www.thatsfarming.com