Co-op leader calls on marts to consolidate after exporter closes

Cattle marts with multiple outlets should bring their sales under one roof to cut their annual costs, according to ICOS chief executive Seamus O’Donohoe.

The co-op umbrella body leader’s call for mart consolidation was just one of the measures for the live animal trade discussed at a joint Oireachtas committee meeting yesterday, gathered to discuss possible learnings from the closure of cattle exporter TLT International.

Mr O’Donohoe highlighted several learnings from the TLT experience, primarily focused on pressures relating to access to credit. Some of his views were echoed by executives speaking for the IFA, ICMSA and ICSA, all of whom agreed an examiner could have been appointed initially rather a receiver.