Marts meet the needs of ever-changing times

THE mart plays a vital part in the rural economy, not just for farmer but for traders of all descriptions.

The mart is where farmers and traders come to do business, and, very importantly, talk business. Here, it’s not just livestock that’s being traded, but also information, knowledge and experience.

And the mart is also a key social outlet for members of an industry that leaves less and less room for personal interaction. Ironically, changing times, with increased technology and new ways of doing business, have also meant there’s simply less reason for farming colleagues to meet in person.

That makes the mart all the more important – but, of course, marts have been changing with the times, too.

Castleisland Co-op Livestock Mart is a farmer owned co-operative which has been providing a livestock auctioneering service since it first opened in 1959. In that time it has grown to become one of the largest such centres in the country, selling livestock for farmers from all over Kerry, West Limerick and North and West Cork.

As this hinterland has very many dairy and suckler farms, the mart has unique access to a regular supply of top class suckler calves of all breeds, as well as some of the finest suckler weanlings in the country. There is also a huge selection of store cattle and cows for further feeding, as well as finished stock.

Manager Gerard Carmody says that over the years how the mart does business has changed constantly. “Every year there’s something new added, and one of the biggest changes to come about in recent years is the amount of information being provided on the big screens in the sales area,” he says.

The sales screens, Gerard points out, give out much more than the basic, regulatory requirements. “Nowadays there’s all sorts of different information coming from different bodies, some of it regulatory and some of it for farmer/trader information.”

As well as animal movements, TB info, passports etc, farmers and traders can now get easy access to information on breeding, herd background, and more – and this is having a knock-on effect in the quality of our agricultural products. “I can see quality improving year on year,” says Gerard.

He also pointed out that people are now travelling much further distances to marts, than in years gone by, and that means his own mart in Castleisland can draw in farmers and traders from ever greater distances.

And, of course, the same is true in the opposite direction, as Gerard points out: “Cattle can leave here and be in Holland in a couple of days – that’s not something you would have seen in years gone by.”

Gerard also pointed to the gantry walkway which Castleisland Mart has had installed. Gantry walkways are now a major issue for marts, where spiralling insurance premiums look likely to lead to whole new