Marts to remain open amid stricter Covid restrictions
Marts are expected to remain open as the country prepares for increased Covid-19 restrictions this week.
Further, calls for viewing times to be allowed for registered buyers are expected to be allowed to accommodate online sales.
As the Farming Independent went to print, it was expected that Level 5 restrictions would be announced.
Under these restrictions the country’s 80-plus marts would be considered ‘essential’ services, but would operate within strict parameters.
Mart managers have been calling on the Department of Agriculture to allow viewing times for registered buyers and it’s expected that Level 5 restrictions would permit this, as marts would operate online sales only, with sellers just allowed drop cattle for sale.
The Mart Managers of Ireland wrote to the Department over the weekend stating the need for registered purchasers to be allowed a viewing time to view livestock prior to sale.
However, previewing of cattle at pen side has not been allowed in the counties under Level 4 in recent weeks.
Ray Doyle, ICOS livestock and environmental services executive, said previewing of animals will be necessary under Level 5 for marts to function. “The vast majority of marts are operating online sales and those that aren’t will have to revert to a tender system to operate.”
However, marts have reported huge differences in the popularity of online bidding in recent weeks as tighter Covid-19 restrictions came into force, with some reporting online sales have fallen back to account for less than 10pc of overall sales.
‘Back ringside’
Brendan Egan, manager at Castlerea Mart, said some of his former regular online buyers have deserted the technology and are now back ringside, with online sales now accounting for only 5-10pc of overall transactions.
Sean Ryan of Sixmilebridge has also seen online sales slip to around 10pc in recent weeks as more men return to the live trade proper.
Other mart managers said that store sales accounted for less volumes of online sales, with buyers anxious to see cattle in the ring before buying.
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