Mart Report: Strong forward cattle are the cream of the crop in Raphoe

Raphoe Livestock Mart – Cattle Prices – 06-04-2023

According to Ann Harkin, there was a “much larger” entry on offer at Raphoe Mart’s cattle sale on Thursday, April 6^th, 2023, where demand continued for stock on offer.

Strong, forward cattle, the mart manager reported, met a “brisk” trade, changing hands from €2.80/kg to €3.40/kg and up to €3.80/kg for quality lots.

Medium weights also “sold well” from €2.70/kg to €3.70/kg and up to €4/kg on occasions.

There was what she described as a “lively” trade for lighter cattle on the day, selling from €2.80/kg to €3.80/kg and up to and over €4/kg for some lots.

Friesian cattle changed hands from €1.90/kg to €2.60/kg, while Aberdeen Angus cattle sold from €2.60/kg to €3.30/kg at Thursday’s general cattle sale.

Raphoe Mart 06-04-2023

• Bulls over 600kgs – €1200 to €1205 over the weight;
• Beef bullocks – €1090 to €1607 over the weight;
• Store bullocks – €515 to €1590 over the weight;
• Beef heifers – €1025 to €1295 over the weight;
• Store heifers – €400 to €1050 over the weight.

Summary: 

• Bulls/Bullocks ranged from €2.70/kg to €3.80/kg;
• Heifers fetched from €2.80/kg to €4.00/kg;
• Fat cows changed hands from €800/head to €2260/head.

Interview with Ann Harkin – manager of Raphoe Mart

As part of our Mart Focus, That’s Farming previously 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.”

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