Report: Strong forward cattle ‘highly sought after’ in Raphoe

Raphoe Mart – Cattle Prices – 30-03-2023

According to Ann Harkin, a “lively” trade prevailed around the ring and online as demand for stock continued at Raphoe Mart on Thursday, March 30^th, 2023.

The mart manager reported that strong forward cattle were “highly sought after” as they changed hands from €2.90/kg to €3.50/kg.

Medium weights also met with a “brisk” trade as lots changed from €2.80/kg to €3.40/kg, while lighter cattle made from €2.80/kg to €3.80/kg.

Aberdeen Angus cattle fetched from €2.50/kg to €3.10/kg, while Friesian cattle varied from €2.10/kg to €2.60/kg at Thursday’s sale.

Raphoe Mart 30-03-2023

• Bulls over 600kgs – €1050 to €1065 over the weight;
• Beef bullocks – €1055 to €1435 over the weight;
• Store bullocks – €535 to €1595 over the weight;
• Beef heifers – €940 to €1570 over the weight;
• Store heifers – €400 to €1090 over the weight;
• Fat cows sold from €800/head to €2480/head.

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.