Mayo-Sligo Mart, based in Ballina, launched an online auction element to its weekly sale last Tuesday. The system is powered by Newline, one of the companies that supplies specific software for marts, and it is the first of its kind to be used in an Irish mart. The online auction system was designed by US company XTIRA.

The system allows farmers to bid or buy cattle live as they pass through the mart ring. To use the system, a farmer can log in through the mart’s website to either view the sale live, or register online to be able to bid on and buy cattle live.

As of yet, the system is only in operation in the bullock and bull ring and is not installed in the heifer ring.

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According to mart manager Billy Loftus, 400 people logged on to view the sale and 70 buyers registered to bid on stock at last Tuesday’s sale.

It is understood that a small number of cattle were purchased online at the sale. It is envisaged that the system may boost both entries and demand in the long term.