Camera at the Mart: roaring trade for fatstock cattle in Raphoe

Raphoe Livestock Mart had a big entry of almost 200 cattle through the ring at last Friday’s annual show and sale of fatstock cattle.

The Raphoe fatstock sale is one of the most famous in the country with a long history of attracting some of the best fatstock cattle in Donegal.

There’s a long tradition of producing top-quality cattle in Donegal and last Friday’s sale was no exception, with one animal better than the next coming into the ring.

Ring one was packed to the rafters, with auctioneer Alec Gourley rhyming off the tunes in a very brisk trade.

Tradition

Another tradition is local butchers and processors supporting the sale each year and there were many from Donegal and beyond at Friday’s sale, with some very active for slaughter-fit stock.

Many of the slaughter-fit cattle made their way to Northern Ireland-based beef processors.

Top call in the dry cow section went to a January 2021-born Charolais-cross cow weighing 1,170kg that sold for €6,450 (€5.51/kg).

She had previously claimed a first prize rosette in the pre-sale show.

There was a big appetite for heavy cows, with some of the best cows in the sale crossing €5/kg on several occasions.

A 2015-born Belgian Blue cow weighing 955kg sold for €6,300 (€6.60/kg).

Top call in the heifer section went to a January 2024-born Belgian Blue heifer. She weighed 840kg and sold for the top price in the sale of €8,100.

Next-highest price went to a February 2024-born Belgian Blue heifer weighing 725kg and selling for €6,900 (€9.52/kg).

Another February 2023-born Belgian Blue heifer weighing 940kg sold for €5,450.

Top call in the bullock section went to an April 2024-born Belgian Blue bullock weighing 850kg and selling for €5,800 (€6.82/kg). Another April 2024-born Belgian Blue bullock weighing 755kg sold for €4,700.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Raphoe Mart manager Ann Harkin said: “We look forward to this sale every year. There was such a buzz around the mart today and that’s down to the great team we have here in Raphoe.

“I want to pay a special tribute to our yard manager Charlie McMenamin, who is retiring after 45 years working in Raphoe Mart.

“We have a very loyal customer base and I want to thank them also for their support all year.

“I would also like to thank our sponsors of our show and sale for their financial support.

“Raphoe Mart will hold its last sheep sale of 2025 on Monday 15 December, with the last cattle sale taking place on Thursday 18 December.”