Livestock marts across Northern Ireland are planning to resume trading next week, having suspended sales on 23 March to curtail the spread of COVID-19.
However, strict protocols will be enforced to ensure the safety of mart staff and customers. Farmers looking to sell livestock must pre-book animals in advance of the sale. No unbooked animals will be permitted entry on the day.
Sellers arriving at marts must remain inside vehicles while stock are unloaded, after which sellers will be asked to leave the mart premises. Mart managers have stated that buyers must also register in advance of sales to limit the number of people attending sales.
Buyers must sign in on arrival to the mart and will be allocated a pre-arranged position in sale rings to ensure proper social distancing is being followed.
Stock are to be sold conditionally, with the owners contacted after sales for their approval to conclude transactions.
“The number of buyers will be strictly limited to allow for social distancing in the sale ring. Only pre-registered buyers will gain entry to the sale,” said Ballymena Mart manager Sam McNabney.
Sales
Ballymena plans to reopen with its normal sale of spring lambs, hoggets and fat ewes on Wednesday 29 April. Fat cows and prime cattle will be sold the following day with weanling cattle and calf sales on Friday 1 May.Markethill Mart will also resume sales next week. Mart manager Hampton Hewitt stated that the normal sale schedule has been amended to limit buyer numbers on site. Dairy cows will now be sold on Tuesday morning (28 April) followed by calves only in the afternoon. Sheep sales will continue on Wednesday evenings, with weanling cattle moving from Saturday to Thursday evenings. Store heifers will be sold on Saturday morning, followed by bullocks after lunch. Again, animals must be pre-booked ahead of selling and only pre-registered buyers will be permitted on the premises.Clogher Valley kicks off with drop calves and fat cattle sales on Saturday 2 May and then a weanling sale is planned for Tuesday 5 May.The Ulster Farmers Mart in Enniskillen started online sales last week and another online sale took place on Tuesday.A sheep sale is scheduled at Swatragh Livestock Market for Saturday 2 May, with a cattle sale taking place the following Monday.Sales will re-commence at Omagh Auction Mart from Monday 4 May where beef and store cattle will be on offer. A sale of fat cows, dropped calves and weanlings will take place the next day Tuesday 6 May.Trading services
During the lockdown, several marts began trading services for farmers that were compliant with coronavirus guidelines.
Downpatrick mart began a weigh and tender service for the sale of cattle earlier this month.
Gortin re-opened its doors on Easter Monday, with bids taken from buyers via telephone.
Auctioneer Richard Beattie subsequently held online sales at his marts in Lisahally, Pomeroy and Draperstown.
Read more
Proposal put to reopen NI marts
Marts shut down across Northern Ireland
Livestock marts across Northern Ireland are planning to resume trading next week, having suspended sales on 23 March to curtail the spread of COVID-19.
However, strict protocols will be enforced to ensure the safety of mart staff and customers. Farmers looking to sell livestock must pre-book animals in advance of the sale. No unbooked animals will be permitted entry on the day.
Sellers arriving at marts must remain inside vehicles while stock are unloaded, after which sellers will be asked to leave the mart premises. Mart managers have stated that buyers must also register in advance of sales to limit the number of people attending sales.
Buyers must sign in on arrival to the mart and will be allocated a pre-arranged position in sale rings to ensure proper social distancing is being followed.
Stock are to be sold conditionally, with the owners contacted after sales for their approval to conclude transactions.
“The number of buyers will be strictly limited to allow for social distancing in the sale ring. Only pre-registered buyers will gain entry to the sale,” said Ballymena Mart manager Sam McNabney.
Sales
Ballymena plans to reopen with its normal sale of spring lambs, hoggets and fat ewes on Wednesday 29 April. Fat cows and prime cattle will be sold the following day with weanling cattle and calf sales on Friday 1 May.Markethill Mart will also resume sales next week. Mart manager Hampton Hewitt stated that the normal sale schedule has been amended to limit buyer numbers on site. Dairy cows will now be sold on Tuesday morning (28 April) followed by calves only in the afternoon. Sheep sales will continue on Wednesday evenings, with weanling cattle moving from Saturday to Thursday evenings. Store heifers will be sold on Saturday morning, followed by bullocks after lunch. Again, animals must be pre-booked ahead of selling and only pre-registered buyers will be permitted on the premises.Clogher Valley kicks off with drop calves and fat cattle sales on Saturday 2 May and then a weanling sale is planned for Tuesday 5 May.The Ulster Farmers Mart in Enniskillen started online sales last week and another online sale took place on Tuesday.A sheep sale is scheduled at Swatragh Livestock Market for Saturday 2 May, with a cattle sale taking place the following Monday.Sales will re-commence at Omagh Auction Mart from Monday 4 May where beef and store cattle will be on offer. A sale of fat cows, dropped calves and weanlings will take place the next day Tuesday 6 May.Trading services
During the lockdown, several marts began trading services for farmers that were compliant with coronavirus guidelines.
Downpatrick mart began a weigh and tender service for the sale of cattle earlier this month.
Gortin re-opened its doors on Easter Monday, with bids taken from buyers via telephone.
Auctioneer Richard Beattie subsequently held online sales at his marts in Lisahally, Pomeroy and Draperstown.
Read more
Proposal put to reopen NI marts
Marts shut down across Northern Ireland
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: