Gortatlea embracing online

GORTATLEA Mart had their first on-line sale last week, and the mart reports that it was a tremendous success.

“The on-line sale reached much higher prices then were expected as farmers and dealers were keen to see and get their hands-on stock,” the mart told The Corkman.

“At Gortatlea Mart we moved to the LSL system over sixteen months now and have seen their progression in the mart as next to none.

“The first sale on Wednesday night had over 1,500 views, with people from all over Ireland registering to purchase animals.

“It seems the LSL online virtual mart system is achieving much higher prices for sellers of livestock than seen in a very long time at marts in Ireland as it opens a much wider audience.

“The LSL virtual mart system is very transparent and opens up the mart to the entire country to bid and not just the local population who attend.”

One online buyer said they were very pleased with what they found with the new experience.

“I have heard so much about Gortatlea Mart but never made it down,” they said.

“I was delighted to see it on line and purchased 21 calves. The mart arranged haulage and the calves were in my yard two hours after the sale was over.

“That is what I call service, I am a converted on-line buyer.”

Manager Maurice Brosnan said: “We had a 98 per cent clearance; a fantastic sale and farmers were very impressed with the LSL App and the quality of the online Livestock Live virtual mart bidding and streaming platform.

“Cull cows sold to a top of €2.25 per kilogramme, weanling bulls made a top of €3.12 per kilogramme and weanling heifers made a top of €3.47 per kilogramme.”