A number of livestock marts have announced a change to their rules regarding the subject sale of cattle.
Across many marts nationwide, customers, who sell their cattle subject (not present in the sellers’ box when their livestock are sold), generally, have, in many cases, up to 60 minutes to confirm or reject a price for their livestock.
But, in a number of marts, going forward, sellers will have a shorter window.
Central Auctions’ three centres in Birr, Nenagh and Roscrea and Kilkenny Mart are among those that have rolled out changes in recent weeks.
In December 2022, a spokesperson for Central Marts released the following statement informing its customer base of the following change:
“Please take notice that as of January 1st, 2023, after the sale of your animals, you will have 30 minutes to contact the mart to let them know if you are selling or not.”
“If we receive no contact from you, it will be assumed that the sale is okay,” the spokesperson added.
Kilkenny Mart
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Kilkenny Mart stated the following:
“An important notice to sellers. Please note that as and from Thursday, January 19th, 2023, sellers will have 15 minutes from the sale of their animals to inform the mart office of their intention to accept or reject the price achieved.”
“If no contact is received from the seller, it will be assumed that the sale is okay,” the spokesperson added.
Importance of marts
In related news, NUIG has proposed that livestock marts could establish social groups for older farmers.
Dr Shane Conway and Dr Maura Farrell in the Rural Studies Centre at NUI Galway are spearheading a project to establish a dedicated social organisation for the older generation of the farming community called Farmer’s Yards.
They plan to establish a network of clubs in every county, or similar geographic entity, to promote social inclusion and create an age-friendly environment in the NUI Galway proposes that the “long-established” livestock mart sector can help facilitate the roll-out of Farmer’s Yards.
They said marts have a “considerable” role already in terms of providing such a social hub for the older generation of the farming community.
Dr Conway added: “In addition to their primary function providing a consistent, stable and transparent method of buying and selling livestock through a guaranteed payment structure, the bidding ring and canteen at marts also provide a vital social facility for the farming community, some of whom have no other social outlet.”
Read more on this news article.
