Farmers told marts need their support

GOLDEN Vale Marts says it will cut sales days at Rathkeale Mart because livestock throughput is insufficient to justify operating costs.

Mart chairman Brian Buckley said annual throughput has dropped from 25,000 livestock to 9,000 over the past 20 years, with calf numbers dropping from 11,000 to 2,000.

Golden Vale Marts wants to temporarily revise the number of sales. It has been subsidising the operation of the mart at Rathkeale.

Mr Buckley said it was up to farmers in the area to support the mart if they want to retain it.

Farmers in west Limerick called on IFA to intervene when the reduction of sales days was announced, and Limerick IFA chairman Michael Roche responded by warning them that local marts will close unless they show more allegiance to them.

He said there is nothing IFA can do to save a mart if it is not getting the support of the local farmers and is therefore running at a loss.