Cattle prices from first-ever TB restricted online auction
Kingscourt Mart in Co. Cavan, in partnership with MartEye, hosted an online auction of cattle from a herd restricted under the Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) Eradication Programme.
The sale of the eight Hereford-cross bulls took place on Thursday, July 10, and "marks a significant milestone in livestock trading in Ireland" as it is understood to be "Ireland’s first online auction featuring cattle from a TB restricted herd", according to a MartEye statement to Agriland.
The online-only sale was open solely to controlled finishing unit (CFU) bidders and involved a single lot of eight bulls aged from 13-22 months-of-age.
The entry of cattle sold had an average weight above 500kg and were sold on a price per kilo basis rather than an overall price per head.
The bulls sold for €4.05/kg, which "reflected a fair market price achieved through a price/kg format," according to MartEye.
"This approach streamlined the process by eliminating the need for weighing prior to sale and attracted enthusiastic participation from a number of CFU bidders,"
Following on from the success of this sale, Kingscourt Mart has announced that the next online auction for restricted herds will take place on Tuesday, July 15, with over 100 calves and runners, and 14 weanling bulls booked in.
Interested parties are encouraged to contact Kingscourt Mart directly.
All sales are subject to District Veterinary Office (DVO) approval, with sellers obtaining permission from their local office.
Kingscourt Mart supplies the DVO with tag numbers and herd details to facilitate the issuing of movement permits and ensure full compliance.
Commenting on the sale, Ciaran Feeney of MartEye said: “This sale represents a groundbreaking step forward in breaking down the stigma surrounding TB restricted herds.
"Hosting the auction on MartEye empowers farmers to achieve fair market value with confidence.”
Lisa Keenan of Kingscourt Mart added: "We are delighted with the result, it’s a real game-changer.
"The demand was always there, we just tapped into it. CFU and feedlot buyers are delighted to now have access to cattle that were previously unavailable to them.
"And most importantly, farmers with TB restricted herds are finally getting a fair price for their stock. It’s a win for everyone.”
