The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
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
set of regulations this year to improve human safety at marts.
While Castleisland Mart is owned by a farmers’ co-op, Gortatlea Mart is a family affair, and here the Brosnan family have cattle in their blood, for generations.
“Our mart is quite unique in that it is owner run,” says owner manager Maurice Brosnan. “We have put our own personal stamp on the business and we aim to provide a top class service to our customers.
It has a personal touch and no one runs a business like the person who owns it themselves.
“We believe in fair play to buyers and sellers, and we also arrange transport for buyers and sellers using local hauliers, which also creates employment locally.”
In 2015, Maurice took over the reins from his uncle, Sean, who first established the mart back in 1982. Having spent a lifetime at the mart, Maurice has seen a lot of change, and not all of it good, either.
“Everything has gone up, cost-wise – insurance, labour, vets fees – absolutely everything has gotten way more expensive but not animal prices. They have not kept pace with the changes. Profit margins are not changing with the times,” says Maurice. “This puts a lot of pressure on the farmers, and on us.”
While Maurice points to “the amount of red tape” as being among the biggest changes down the years what he is, perhaps, most exercised about is the decline in certain types of trade – which tells its own story about the changing nature of Irish farming.
“Before, people would always keep a few calves but that isn’t happening any more. People just want to get them out the door as soon as they can. It’s all about dairying now,” he says. “We had 1,200 calves for sale here last week. In days gone by 6-700 calves would be a big sale. It just doesn’t pay people to keep calves any more. People aren’t being paid to rear them.”
Suckler sales, he says, have dropped by 50-70% over the years he’s been at the mart, while dairy sales have, at least, tripled. “That’s the way things have gone, but you have to change with the times, and we do,” he says.
Meanwhile, and looking to the future, Maurice isn’t overly concerned by the feared potential fall-outs from Brexit, which has greatly concerned the farming sector. “I think Brexit is not going to hit us as hard as people say. People still have to eat, there will still need to be dinner on the table and so I don’t see any less of a demand for meat down the road,” he says.
“We just have to adapt to the changes as they come.”
With ever-changing times marts have had to adapt to the many challenges arriving at their doors – from government regulations to Foot and Mouth Disease, from animal welfare to human safety. And it really is ever-changing – this year is likely to bring another new raft of regulations as marts fight to bring down soaring insurance costs.
Yet the mart remains pivotal to the Irish livestock industry. And so, too, do they remain vital pivot for not only farmers – and rural life – but traders of all description, who flock to marts weekly.