‘Continued demand’ for stock in Raphoe – Harkin

Farming News/Mart Reports: Raphoe Mart – Cattle Prices – 20-07-2023

According to Ann Harkin, there was “another good” entry at this week’s cattle sale at Raphoe Mart on Thursday, July 20^th, 2023, with “continued demand” for stock contributing to the lively trade around the ring and online.

Strong forward cattle sold from €2.60/kg to €3.40/kg, while medium weights made from €2.60/kg to €3.50/kg and lighter weights went under the hammer from €2.70/kg to €3.80/kg.

Friesian cattle varied from €1.60/kg to €2.20/kg, while Aberdeen Angus sold from €2.20/kg to €2.80/kg.

Summary:

• Bulls/bullocks made from €2.40/kg to €3.60/kg;
• Heifers ranged from €2.50/kg to €3.80/kg;
• Fat cows went under the hammer from €700/head to €1940/head.

Sheep prices

Meanwhile, there was a “brisk” trade around the ring and online for the larger entry of sheep on offer at the Donegal-based mart’s sale this week.

Lamb prices:

• €80 to €100 for 27-34kgs;
• €100 to €120 for 34-38kgs;
• €120 to €140 for 38-43kgs;
• €140 to €157 for 43-55kgs.

Other categories:

• Fat ewes sold from €70/head to €172/head.

Last week’s prices

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 last 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.

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