Farming News/Mart Reports on That’s Farming – Raphoe Mart – Cattle Prices – 10-08-2023
According to Ann Harkin, there was another “good” entry for this week’s cattle sale at Raphoe Mart, Co Donegal, on Thursday, August 10th, 2023.
The mart manager reported that there was “continued” demand for quality stock, while plainer lots were “more difficult to sell”.
Forward cattle made from €2.40/kg to €3.20/kg, while medium weights pushed from €2.50/kg to €3.30/kg and lighter weights ranged from €2.50/kg to €3.50/kg.
FR cattle traded from €1.75/kg to €2.10/kg, while AA cattle changed hands from €2.10/kg to €2.60/kg and cull cows varied from €850/head to €1800/head.
According to Harkin, lambs sold to €142/head, while hoggets hit €232/head and fat ewes topped at €204/head at Monday’s sale.
Lamb prices:
- €70 to €90 for 28-33kgs;
- €90 to €110 for 34-40kgs;
- €110 to €130 for 40-44kgs;
- €130 to €142 for 45-52kgs.
Other prices:
- Hoggets ranged from €140/head to €232/head;
- Fat ewes sold from €60/head to a high of €204/head.
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.”
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
 from cattle sale of cull cows, heifers and bullocks at Raphoe Mart, Donegal on August 10th, 2023.){kind=link}