Extra farmer activity ‘boosts’ cattle trade in Raphoe – Harkin

Raphoe Mart – Cattle Prices – 16-03-2023

According to Ann Harkin, trade “held firm for all categories of stock” at Raphoe Mart’s general cattle sale on Thursday, March 16^th, 2023.

The mart manager reported that strong, forward cattle were “still in demand” – changing hands from €3.00/kg to €3.60/kg for quality lots.

Medium weights also met with what she described as a “brisk” trade, with many selling from €2.90/kg to €3.70/kg.

Harkin commented: “Lighter lots sold well with extra farmer activity around the ring and online boosting the trade.”

“These sold from €3.00/kg to €3.90/kg. At Thursday’s sale, Aberdeen Angus-type cattle sold from €2.50/kg to €3.30/kg, while Friesian cattle ranged from €2/kg to €2.60/kg.”

Raphoe Mart 16-03-2023

• Bulls over 600kgs – €1095 to €1685 over the weight;
• Beef bullocks – €1240 to €1260 over the weight;
• Store bullocks – €577 to €1320 over the weight;
• Beef heifers – €935 to €1345 over the weight;
• Store heifers – €370 to €950 over the weight.

Summary:

• Bulls/bullocks ranged from €2.60/kg to €3.60/kg;
• Heifers fetched from €2.70/kg to €3.90/kg;
• Cull cows made from €710/head to €2120/head.

This week’s sheep prices

According to Harkin, there was a “good” entry of sheep this week with a “good trade throughout,” resulting in a total clearance.

Lamb prices:

• €80 to €100 for 28-36 kgs;
• €100 to €120 for 37-41 kgs;
• €120 to €140 for 42-46 kgs;
• €140 to €155 for 47-55 kgs.

Other categories:

• Springing ewes from €130 to €208 each;
• Ewes with 1 lamb from €170 to €235 each;
• Ewes with 2 lambs from €220 to €304 each;
• Fat ewes from €80 to €218/head.

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.

Mart reports:

You can find more mart reports.

Ann Harkin

As part of our 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.”

Established in 1959, Raphoe Livestock Mart began with a committee and 270 shareholders, holding their first sale in July 1961.

Read her profile.