‘Unfair and discriminatory’
The role of a livestock mart has many functions in rural Ireland – financial and psychological would be two of the more important features.
“Rural areas are still battling poor broadband, coupled with an age profile of farmers which may not be fully adapted to technologies. This leaves the impossible balancing act between a physical presence at a mart and the ability to trade remotely. Mart management have the space, ability and will to trade online where possible and to allow a group of up to 25 dedicated buyers to allow physical and online trade to flow safely.
“When there are no restrictions in supermarkets to buy a tin of beans, why should there be a restriction to buying a cow, bull or ewe? The current situation is unfair and discriminatory to those not up to speed with technology and those in areas disadvantaged by poor broadband.”
– Daniel Moy, Donegal
‘Small farmers tossed to one side’
Whoever makes up the current restrictions doesn’t have a clue how farming operates. Once again, the small farmer trying to sell a handful of cattle around the ring is being tossed to one side. Buyers need to get back around the ring one way or the other and as for rural WiFi – the majority of cattle dealers hardly know how to text, never mind buy or sell online.”
– David Boyd
‘Some people
think rules are
for the craic’
I’m Type 1 diabetic, 40 years of age, small part-time farmer. I only visit the marts a few times a year to sell stock. Recently, I was selling cattle and I was shocked to see what was going on around the ring. People standing on top of one another, not wearing facemasks right, some wearing them on their chin and some just around their mouth, not covering their nose and others greeting each other by shaking hands.
“I have a seven-year-old son who can follow rules to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and then you see this. This is why there is a need to do this. Some people just think the rules are for the craic.”
– David Fannin
‘Online sales
not working’
Marts should open with restrictions, allow buyers into the mart to view and buy animals.”
– Liz Graham
‘No winks or favours across the ring’
I sold lambs at Portumna on Tuesday and the trade was on fire. I got the feeling that the buyers were more aggressive with the online system.
“It helps that some buyers can’t do the winks and favours across the ring at each other I think.
“I had a very positive experience with it [online trading].I got €98 for 40kg and €94 for 38kg lambs.
“The ewe lambs were a phenomenal trade too.
“Loughrea, too, seemed to have a significant jump in the trade.
“I’m in my 30s and work full-time at home – anything that works to make things simpler is good for me.
“I think the system is so efficient – drop off the lambs and go.
“It’s superbly efficient for me selling and it must be a lot simpler for marts from an insurance point of view too.”
– Cormac Power,
Co Galway
‘Unfair and discriminatory’
The role of a livestock mart has many functions in rural Ireland – financial and psychological would be two of the more important features.
“Rural areas are still battling poor broadband, coupled with an age profile of farmers which may not be fully adapted to technologies. This leaves the impossible balancing act between a physical presence at a mart and the ability to trade remotely. Mart management have the space, ability and will to trade online where possible and to allow a group of up to 25 dedicated buyers to allow physical and online trade to flow safely.
“When there are no restrictions in supermarkets to buy a tin of beans, why should there be a restriction to buying a cow, bull or ewe? The current situation is unfair and discriminatory to those not up to speed with technology and those in areas disadvantaged by poor broadband.”
– Daniel Moy, Donegal
‘Small farmers tossed to one side’
Whoever makes up the current restrictions doesn’t have a clue how farming operates. Once again, the small farmer trying to sell a handful of cattle around the ring is being tossed to one side. Buyers need to get back around the ring one way or the other and as for rural WiFi – the majority of cattle dealers hardly know how to text, never mind buy or sell online.”
– David Boyd
‘Some people
think rules are
for the craic’
I’m Type 1 diabetic, 40 years of age, small part-time farmer. I only visit the marts a few times a year to sell stock. Recently, I was selling cattle and I was shocked to see what was going on around the ring. People standing on top of one another, not wearing facemasks right, some wearing them on their chin and some just around their mouth, not covering their nose and others greeting each other by shaking hands.
“I have a seven-year-old son who can follow rules to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and then you see this. This is why there is a need to do this. Some people just think the rules are for the craic.”
– David Fannin
‘Online sales
not working’
Marts should open with restrictions, allow buyers into the mart to view and buy animals.”
– Liz Graham
‘No winks or favours across the ring’
I sold lambs at Portumna on Tuesday and the trade was on fire. I got the feeling that the buyers were more aggressive with the online system.
“It helps that some buyers can’t do the winks and favours across the ring at each other I think.
“I had a very positive experience with it [online trading].I got €98 for 40kg and €94 for 38kg lambs.
“The ewe lambs were a phenomenal trade too.
“Loughrea, too, seemed to have a significant jump in the trade.
“I’m in my 30s and work full-time at home – anything that works to make things simpler is good for me.
“I think the system is so efficient – drop off the lambs and go.
“It’s superbly efficient for me selling and it must be a lot simpler for marts from an insurance point of view too.”
– Cormac Power,
Co Galway
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