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Tuam Mart
“The mart has been busy here over the course of the spring.
“The trade has been good to match too, with sheep prices high across the board. Cull ewes have been in high demand, with a few individuals from other parts of the country taking advantage of the online sales to purchase sheep from home, and travelling to Tuam afterwards.
“This competition has helped hogget and lamb prices too.
“Cattle prices have also improved recently and have held well. Numbers are a bit smaller than other years but a steady flow of cattle all spring is a sign of the good trade. I’d imagine some farmers will have sold cattle at home, or were waiting until the ringsides opened again. The grass growth is only really kicking off now, so that will help the trade again.
“The online system over the past 12 months has been a success to a point. The recent trade has been fantastic and it has been brilliant in keeping the marts open and working. But broadband is an issue in rural areas. Investment in this as well as the software will really help the online system complement the ringside buyers when they return.”
Kingscourt Mart
“We have had a very busy few months, with numbers still holding steady.
“The trade has been good since Christmas, with northern buyers providing extra competition. Recent weeks have seen southern buyers more competitive, perhaps due to the increase in factory prices.
“Lamb factory prices obviously had a great effect on the sheep trade, and demand is strong for all types.
“All cattle are being met with a strong trade, factory agents are driving beef cattle prices, while there are plenty of buyers purchasing forward store bullocks, heifers and cows for grass. The weanling and suckler trade is also strong.
“Online sales have been a great outlet in the past 12 months, they’ve kept us open and functioning which is brilliant. While strength of broadband is an issue, the systems are improving all the time. Everyone is learning as the weeks pass, and lots of farmers have set up at home on tablets or laptops in order to get a better view of stock.
“That being said, it is hard to beat having the buyers physically present at the ring and while online complements this, hopefully we will soon have the buyers back ringside.”
Tullow Mart
“Trade for all stock has been good during the spring. Starting with the fatstock sales in January and February, the cattle trade was improved. [This was] partly down to northern activity but the beef price and weather conditions have really helped improve things coming into March and April.
“Confidence has returned to the cattle industry in recent months and that is evident in the big sales and good trade over the spring. Heavy cattle are a great trade but there’s also no shortage of customers for younger stock.
“Lamb prices have also had the desired effect on sheep marts, with a spring to remember for the trade. The last eight to 10 weeks have shown that the price is achievable when the demand is there, and hopefully that’s where it will stay.
“Calves have been a steady trade all spring. With exporters rarely disrupted due to weather they have been able to service their demand and it has kept the prices solid.
“I think online has been and will continue to be a brilliant asset to the marts. Farmers and marts have adapted to the new way of doing business and our customer base has expanded hugely because of it. While I hope that the farmers at the ringside will soon bring back the heartbeat of the mart industry, I also see online sales being a huge part of our future.”
Corrin Mart
“Every sector coming through the mart has had a positive spring. We started strong in the early sales and numbers have continued to be high up until recently. Trade has been excellent, with all types being a few euros dearer almost every week. Over 99% clearances have become the norm, which is great.
“Dairy sales have been extraordinary this year. The numbers presented for sale have been very high and the prices given have been a testament to the farmers breeding the stock. Farmers from all over the country travel to the area to buy dairy stock and the work that goes into breeding the heifers is seen in the money they are prepared to give.
“Sheep have been a brilliant trade too, and all types are very easily sold. It’s great for the sheep farmers who are well due a good year.
“Online sales have been a great success. They’ve kept us open and working and brought a good number of new customers from outside the usual area for everything. All customers have adapted and co-operated well with the changes. In saying that, we can’t wait to have ringsides open again, from the social element more than the business side.”
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