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Associated Livestock Marts (ALM) is the organisation representing the views of privately owned marts in Ireland.
Its secretary, Eric Driver, who is also the manager of Tullow Livestock Sales, says that the organisation is focused on ensuring that marts remain a vibrant platform for customers to trade their animals.
“Associated Livestock Marts totals over 16 privately owned marts.
"Our foreground message is that we, as mart managers within the industry, ensure that livestock markets provide a rostrum to ensure that farmers are not price-takers and are price-makers.
"When a seller stands inside the box and the hammer falls, farmers can make up their minds if they are happy with the price and decide to sell."
This is the only such outlet producers have and we feel it is the cornerstone of ensuring that farmers in Ireland hold on to this credibility and have a marketplace where they will get a fair and honest price.
To achieve this goal, Eric says that ALM is in discussions with numerous organisations to ensure the viability of livestock marts are kept to the fore.
Issues of concern
“Issues of concern at present are the review by the Department of Agriculture of operating rules for livestock marts.
"Our marts have always offered and will continue to offer the best service to customers but regulations must be workable for everyone involved.
"Of particular note is working towards a system that ensures sheep tagging and traceability is made more user-friendly and allows the industry to adapt immediately and harness the potential of any new markets Ireland gains access to.”
Bord Bia QA Scheme
The Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme is another area where Eric Driver says the organisation is working to ensure that livestock traded are not negatively affected.
“We are maintaining pressure to ensure that livestock traded through a mart cannot have their Bord Bia Quality Assurance status changed.
"This, in turn, should suggest that movements would become less of a priority. On a recent study trip to England, ALM mart managers noticed the high volume of beef cattle traded in the ring.
"One would have to question why beef prices across the Irish Sea are generally stronger than they are in Ireland.
"Is it because those beef farmers are selling their beef live in the ring and are price-makers, not price takers.
"We will continue to work to remove any barriers of trade limiting this important outlet for finished cattle.”
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