Some marts are back in business this week, albeit under drastically different rules that dictate how stock are handled and how social distancing is ensured while business is carried out on the premises.

Marts must submit a standard operating procedure (SOP) to the local district veterinary office (DVO), which issues permission to proceed once the SOP meets the requirements.

There appears to be some confusion between DVOs on interpretation of the guidelines, with some marts able to allow buyers into the mart on a one-by-one basis, while others are not allowed to have people enter the mart.

The map below has an up to date status on all marts, which will be updated daily.

In these cases, the DVO is insisting the purchasing deal is agreed on the farm and the mart just provides a weighing service with only mart staff present.

Calves were a good trade in Kilkenny on Tuesday

Some DVOs are also insisting that they are present when animals come into the mart and are notified in advance of any weighing taking place.

Calves were a good trade in Kilkenny on Tuesday, with good-quality continental bull calves making from €140/head to €300/head, while continental heifers made from €80/head to €250/head. Hereford and Angus bull calves made from €70/head to €240/head, while heifers made from €40/head to €200/head.

Carnaross had a 100% clearance rate for the 150 adult cattle at its online sale on Monday

Friesians made from €30/head to €50/head for lesser quality calves and from €70/head to €120/head for older better-quality calves. Carnaross had a 100% clearance rate for the 150 adult cattle at its online sale on Monday. Further online sales are planned for Carnaross and Manorhamilton next week.

Mart managers around the country are saying continental cattle suitable to go to grass in the 400-500kg bracket seem to be trading around €2.10/kg, with €2.30/kg being paid for top-quality lots. Lesser-quality dairy-bred cattle are back in the €1.70-€1.90/kg bracket.

These prices are back €0.20/kg on the trade up to when marts closed and reflect the recent drop in beef price.

Weanling heifers are making a little more – €2.10-€2.30/kg for heifer calves and as high as €2.40/hg for top-quality 300-400kg weanling bulls.

Marts in Northern Ireland suspended sales from Monday 23 March. Although the decision was for a two-week period, marts remain closed

Clare Marts manager Martin McNamara said there was good demand for grass cattle from farmers who traditionally summer graze. These buyers would have sold cattle last October and got on well and they are always good customers.

Beef finishers are more cautious, holding out to see where beef prices are going before buying.

Marts in Northern Ireland suspended sales from Monday 23 March. Although the decision was for a two-week period, marts remain closed.

However, some marts have offered to advertise buyer and seller requests via social media, along with offering a weighing service, provided all protocols around social distancing can be properly enforced.